WILTSHIRE Air Ambulance has flown an 80-year-old cyclist who suffered serious head injuries in an accident on Cricklade Road to hospital.

At around 12.22pm the ambulance service was called to the incident which involved a Thamesdown Transport bus and a cyclist, close to the junction of Liddington Street.

The male casualty has sustained serious head injuries and was unconscious but breathing.

He was flown to the major trauma centre at Southmead Hospital, Bristol, in a critical condition. Wiltshire Air Ambulance took 12 minutes to transport him after he was anaesthetised at the scene.

Cricklade Road, Poplar Avenue and Headlands Grove have been closed.

These closures are expected to be in place for the next four hours. The bus involved had been in operation at the time.

Thamesdown Transport tweeted: "Services 17 18 & 20 not able to operate via Gorse Hilll due to a Police incident."

A spokesman for Thamesdown Transport said: “A bus has been involved in an accident on Cricklade Road.  Whilst investigations continue we are unable to comment further. 

"Our thoughts are with the cyclist and all those involved.”

Sgt Steve Love, of the serious collision investigation team, said: "We have an 80-year-old male cyclist who was travelling south on Cricklade Road at around 12.20pm.

"The evidence at the moment suggests he has intended to turn right and as he negotiates the manouvre he has come into collision with a bus directly behind him.

“The bus was in use at the time and we would appeal for any passengers who were on the bus at the time, or anyone who witnessed the incident, to contact us if we have not already spoken to them."

Anyone with any information about the incident should contact Wiltshire Police on non-emergency number 101.