A cyclist who had sustained serious head injuries was found on Sunday 7 January in Christchurch.

Dorset Police received a report at 5.44pm saying a man had been found on the eastbound carriageway of Barrack Road, between the Bailey Roundabout and the junction with Stour Road.

Emergency services attended and the cyclist – a man in his 50s from the Bournemouth area – was taken by air ambulance to hospital, where he remains in a serious condition. His family has been informed.

Sergeant Mike Gatfield, of the Roads Policing Team, said: “We are carrying out enquiries to establish how the cyclist came to sustain his injuries and I am appealing to anyone who saw a man on a black and blue Scott mountain bike in the area of Barrack Road on the evening of Sunday 7 January to please contact us.

“I would also like to hear from anyone who may have captured anything relevant on dashcam footage.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email at scit@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55240003415. Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.