AN 82-year-old cyclist was airlifted to hospital with life threatening injuries after he was involved in a collision with a motorcycle yesterday afternoon (Monday). The accident happened on Hatfield Road, near the Smallford campus of Oaklands College, at

AN 82-year-old cyclist was airlifted to hospital with life threatening injuries after he was involved in a collision with a motorcycle yesterday afternoon (Monday).

The accident happened on Hatfield Road, near the Smallford campus of Oaklands College, at around 4.30pm as the elderly man pushed his cycle across the road.

Ambulance crews from Harpenden, St Albans and Stevenage went to the scene along with an air ambulance, which landed in a field opposite the Alban Retail Park.

Firefighters cut a hole in the surrounding fence to enable the air ambulance crew quick and easy access to the patient who was then conveyed to a London hospital for treatment. He remains in a critical condition.

Ambulance service spokesman Gary Sanderson, who attended the scene, said: "The pedal cyclist sustained life threatening injuries following the collision. Land paramedics and a doctor from the air ambulance used advanced skills at the scene before he was flown to the Royal London hospital in Whitechapel."

The 17-year-old motorcyclist from Borehamwood, who was riding a white Triumph Daytona, received minor injuries and was taken to Lister Hospital in Stevenage but was discharged last night.

The busy stretch of road was closed for around four hours while the accident was cleared and investigations took place.

Police are now appealing for witnesses to the accident to come forward and call 0845 33 00 222.

Traffic incident investigator, PC Kevin Sloan, said: “We would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident itself – or who may have seen the motorcyclist and cyclist immediately prior to the incident.

"Any information, however insignificant you think it is, could prove vital to our investigation.”