A CYCLIST suffered serious injuries in a collision between two mountain bikes in Southampton.

The cyclists collided while both were travelling along Lodge Road towards Portswood Road.

It happened as they approached the pedestrian crossing at the junction with Earls Road, one behind the other.

The cyclist behind, a 41-year-old man from Southampton, came off his blue-framed bike and suffered serious injuries to his head and chest.

He was taken to the Southampton General Hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition.

The other cyclist, a 22-year-old man from Southampton, was uninjured.

The road had to be closed for around two hours after the accident at around 7.30pm yesterday to allow for a full investigation of the scene and recovery of the bicycles.

Anyone with information or who witnessed the collision is asked to Sergeant Simon Brooks at the Totton Roads Policing Unit on 0845 045 4545 or Crimestoppers, the charity, on 0800 555 111.