THE Deputy Mayor of Christchurch had to undergo emergency surgery after being knocked off his bike in the town centre.

Councillor Paul Hilliard suffered injuries to his hand following the crash at Fountain Roundabout in Christchurch.

Cllr Hilliard had been cycling to Royal Bournemouth Hospital to do his weekly volunteering shift when the incident took place.

He joined the roundabout from the High Street, and was hit by a car coming from the Sopers Lane junction.

He was knocked off, seeing the back of his helmet crack and his hand injured.

The driver involved and other witnesses stopped to help Cllr Hilliard and call the emergency services.

He was taken to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital for an initial assessment, before being taken to Poole Hospital for emergency surgery on his hand to realign and rebuild the bones.

Cllr Hilliard has thanked everyone who helped him during the incident on the morning of Friday, December 1.

He said: “As you would expect from our NHS, the service for patients in need is comprehensive and amazing.

“We hear the negatives about pressures, but people must think about the most suitable course of action when they feel ill, not just resort to going to the emergency departments.”

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: "At 8.05am on Friday, December 1, Dorset Police received a report of road traffic collision involving a car and a cyclist in the vicinity of the Fountain Roundabout in Christchurch.

"Officers and an ambulance crew attended the scene.

"There were no reports of any serious injuries."