A motorcyclist remains in a ‘critical condition’ in hospital after an early-morning crash on Sunday.

Blackpool Road at the junction with Pedders Lane, Ashton-on-Ribble, was closed for a number of hours following a rider colliding with a tree.

The 26-year-old biker came off his bike and hit a tree in Ashton Park.

A heavy police and ambulance presence was deployed from 7.50am on Sunday (25 November), although the collision took place around 4.30am.

The biker remains in RPH in a ‘critical condition’ after receiving a number of serious injuries.

The North West Ambulance Service confirmed they had taken a man to hospital with major trauma injuries.

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Sergeant Malcolm Bell, of Lancashire Police, said: “The man is seriously injured and our thoughts are with him and his family. We do not believe any other vehicles were involved but are working to establish the full circumstances.

“If you saw the motorcycle, which is a Suzuki GSX600 in the area around that time, or witnessed the collision, we’d like to speak to you.”

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Lewis Knight, who found the biker, told Blog Preston: “He could hardly move and looked extremely cold. He was not responsive.

“He has injuries to his ankle, arm and legs. He had been there for a while.

“It looked as though he had been going at some speed as he was 20metres or so away from the bike.”

Anyone with information should call 101 quoting log number 332 of 25th November.