A 70-YEAR-OLD man suffered serious head injuries after falling off his motorcycle in a collision with a car in Ashton Road yesterday.

The motorbike collided with a Nissan X-Trail just before 11am, leaving debris scattered over the road. The rider suffered severe head and chest injuries, but was conscious and breathing when paramedics arrived at the scene.

The driver of the 4x4 was unhurt in the collision. Ashton Road was closed for several hours while the debris was removed by police, with diversions in place around the B4696.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said: “We were called to a report of a two-vehicle road traffic collision at 10.50am, which occurred on Ashton Road at the junction of the Minety crossroads.

“The collision involved a car and a motorcyclist.

The motorcyclist, a man in his 70s, suffered serious head injuries and had to be airlifted to hospital.

“Ashton Road was closed in both directions from the main crossroads through to Minety.”

The rider was treated at the scene before being taken to Southmead Hospital in Bristol .

A spokesman for South Western Ambulance Service said the man was conscious, breathing and talking when medics arrived and was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital.

Witnesses, or anyone with information, is asked to call Wiltshire Police on the non-emergency number 101.