A CYCLIST was airlifted to hospital with serious leg and head injuries after a crash between a cyclist and a car near Minehead.

Emergency services rushed to the incident shortly before 5.30pm yesterday evening following the crash on the A39 at Carhampton.

The cyclist, a man in his 30s, suffered serious head and leg injuries in the incident, and was airlifted by Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance to Southmead Hospital in Bristol.

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police described the injuries as “potentially serious, but not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing".

One man in his 40s has been arrested by police on suspicion of driving without due care and attention, and has been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward and contact them on 101.

Firefighters, police and paramedics all rushed to the scene following the crash.

Officers were forced to close the road between Dragon Cross and Carhampton Cross for five hours to allow the emergency services to work, and motorists were urged to avoid the area as the road remained while an investigation launched.

The road re-opened at 10pm.

A spokesman for South Western Ambulance Service said: "We were called to the incident at 5.26pm on the Carhampton Straight on the A39 following a collision between a car and a push bike.

"The push bike rider was a man in his 30s.

"He suffered leg and head injuries in the incident, and was airlifted to Southmead Hospital in Bristol.

"He was conscious and breathing at the time he was airlifted."

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said: "We were called to the incident shortly before 5.30pm to the A39 at Carhampton by the ambulance service following a crash between a car and a pushbike.

“The air ambulance was also called, and the man has been airlifted to Southmead Hospital with potentially serious injuries.

“The fire service and the ambulance were also called to the scene.

“A man in his 40s has been arrested by police on suspicion of driving without due care and attention and is currently in police custody."

Speaking from the scene last night, one eye-witness said: "The road is closed from both directions, with a police car with flashing lights and a road closed sign.

"Police officers are diverting a lot of traffic."

One nearby resident, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: "There's been a lot of traffic here since about half four, five o'clock.

"We do get a lot of crashes around here and it is quite concerning."