A MOTORCYCLIST has been airlifted to Southampton General Hospital after a serious crash.

Emergency services raced to crash yesterday following reports of a serious crash involving two people on a motorbike.

The rider, a man in his 40s, was airlifted to Southampton General Hospital by the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance

He is believed to have suffered leg injuries which although serious were not thought to be life threatening, following the crash near Portland Bill in Portland Bill Road near the Pulpit Inn.

Although the rider was seriously injured, police said the pillion passenger on the Suzuki bike – registered to a Weymouth keeper – was unharmed in the crash. No other vehicles were involved.

It happened near the last sharp bend before the Pulpit Inn.

Portland Bill Road was closed from the Eight Kings pub down to the lighthouse for more than two hours while emergency services worked at the scene and an investigation was carried out.

Police allowed traffic to leave the Bill car park, diverting vehicles around the crash site.

Police, paramedics and firefighters were alerted shortly after 5.20pm on Friday.

Portland residents reported seeing multiple emergency service vehicles heading to the scene.

Firecrews left the scene shortly after once it was established no-one was trapped.

The air ambulance was scrambled as it was established an airlift to the major trauma centre at Southampton was needed.

One resident said: “I heard lots of sirens, which isn’t unusual for the road up through Fortuneswell, but then I saw the air ambulance flying over and thought it must have been a serious incident.

“I do hope those involved are okay.”