A serious crash involving a car and a cyclist has led to the closure of a major road in Weymouth.

Dorset Police received a report at 4.55 pm on Monday, January 22, of a collision involving a black Ford Fiesta hatchback and a bicycle at Chalbury Corner.

Police shut Preston Road while officers, firefighters and paramedics work at the scene. 

Eyewitnesses saw four police cars, two fire crews and two ambulances in attendance. 

The cyclist - a man in his 60s - was airlifted to Southampton General Hospital for treatment to injuries that are described as life-changing.

Dorset Echo: The crash has caused tailbacks onto Preston RoadThe crash has caused tailbacks onto Preston Road (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

The crash caused large tailbacks onto Preston Road and Littlemoor Road.Dorset Echo: Police, fire crews and ambulance services are on the scenePolice, fire crews and ambulance services are on the scene (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

Dorset Echo: Police have closed Preston Road in both directionsPolice have closed Preston Road in both directions (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: "At 4.54pm on Monday, January 22, Dorset Police received a report of a serious road traffic collision involving a car and a cyclist at the junction for Chalbury Corner and Littlemoor Road in Weymouth.

"Officers are in attendance as well as fire and ambulance crews.

"Road closures have been put in place on the B3155 Preston Road to allow emergency services to deal with the incident."

Dorset Echo: Emergency services rushed to the scene of the crashEmergency services rushed to the scene of the crash (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

A witness said they rushed to help at the scene.

"I don't know how he was but I hope he is ok," they said. 

"The fire crew came and he was put in an ambulance.  I am absolutely devastated."

A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) said: “We were called at 16:44hrs on Monday 22 January to a road traffic incident in Weymouth.

"We sent four double-crewed ambulances, an operations officer, and an air ambulance, and we conveyed one patient by air ambulance to Southampton General Hospital.”

A spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue said: "We received a call at 4.50pm yesterday afternoon about a road traffic collision on Littlemoor Road, Weymouth.

"Two crews from Weymouth attended the incident which involved a vehicle and bicycle."