POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a teenage cyclist suffered serious injuries in a collision with a car yesterday.

The boy was airlifted to hospital after the accident in Old Road at 3.20pm.

A police spokesman said: "We attended and found a bicycle and a car had been in collision.

"The rider of the bicycle, a teenage boy, has been taken to hospital with serious injuries.

"If you saw the incident, were driving in the area and have dash cam footage or have any other information please call us on 101."

The boy - believed to be 14 years old - was airlifted to hospital by helicopter.

A woman, who was just yards from the scene of the crash, said: "I heard two people shouting 'No'.

"As I went out I saw the young lad lying in the road and windscreen of the car had been smashed.

"He had head and arm injuries.

"He was conscious.

"He was trying to move and people on the street were trying to help him.

"At that time of the afternoon it is quite busy and people were straight there, trying to help."

Harwich and Manningtree Standard:

  • The scene of the accident in Old Road

The woman, who asked not to be named, said paramedics were at the scene within minutes.

"I called the paramedics and so did other people," she said.

"They were on the scene within minutes.

"The air ambulance landed in the gas works.

"There was an ambulance and two paramedics."

It is understood the teenager is a Clacton Coastal Academy pupil, who was still in his school uniform when the accident happened.

Harwich and Manningtree Standard:

  • The teenager's bike in the road

Old Road was closed off between Morrisons and the Century cinema by police who confirmed there had been a serious accident.

A police cordon was put in place while an investigation was launched.

The stricken bike could still be seen lying in the middle of the road more than an hour after the incident.

The road has now reopened.