A 54-year-old cyclist from Swindon is in a critical condition after suffering a heart attack and a broken neck when he collided with the back of a lorry in Latton on Thursday afternoon.

The cyclist had been travelling north west along Cirencester Road just before 4pm when he collided with the rear of the lorry which had been parked at the side of the road.

Ambulance teams attended and performed emergency CPR after discovering the man had suffered a cardiac arrest, and transferred him to Southmead Hospital in Bristol by air after being taken to Great Western Hospital for a short time.

A spokesperson for Wiltshire Police said: "A cyclist was seriously injured in a collision with a lorry near Cricklade.

"Emergency services were called to Cirencester Road, Latton, Cricklade, at approximately 3.57pm on Thursday April 23, following a report of a road traffic collision.

"The cyclist, a 54-year-old man from Swindon, was travelling north west along Cirencester Road when he collided with the rear of a parked lorry.

"The cyclist, who was riding a black and white bike, sustained a significant head injury and a broken neck. He was taken to the Great Western Hospital and then on to Southmead Hospital in Bristol, where his condition is described as critical."

A spokesperson for South Western Ambulance Service said: "We were called to Cirencester Road at 3.51pm by the police to a road traffic collision, where we found one male casualty who had suffered a cardiac arrest.

"CPR was carried out at the scene and the male was transported to Great Western Hospital before being transferred to Southmead by the Wiltshire Air Ambulance."

Police are appealing for any witnesses to the collision to contact them with information.

PC Phil Tatem, of the Roads Policing Unit, said: "A full road closure of Cirencester Road was put in place to allow specialist officers to carry out a full scene investigation. The road was closed for approximately three hours.

"We would like to hear from any witnesses to the collision, or anybody who saw the cyclist prior to the incident."

Anyone with information should call PC Tatem on 101. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be left anonymously.