A cyclist was airlifted to hospital after he came off his bike on the Kirkstone Pass.

Emergency services were called to The Struggle area of the pass, up from Ambleside, at about 5.30pm yesterday, where he had to be put into an induced coma on the side of the road.

A spokesman for the Great North Air Ambulance Service said: "He'd come off his bike at speed and hit one of the walls on the way down. He sustained a very serious head injury and was put into and induced coma."

The man's injuries were originally though to be critical but a police spokesman confirmed tonight though that the analysis had changed to "life-changing but not life threatening"

The 29-year-old, from the Newcastle area, was flown to a major trauma centre in Preston.

Part of the Kirkstone Pass was closed in both directions and diversions were in place.

Police advised motorists to take care on the diversionary route and to adapt their driving accordingly. They were asked to avoid the area if possible.