AN elderly cyclist was taken to hospital this morning following a crash with a car.

The man, who is in his late 70s, was not wearing a crash helmet and suffered a head injury in the crash which happened near to the junction of Hylton Road and Henwick Road in Worcester.

A rapid response vehicle and an ambulance were sent to the scene after receiving a number of 999 calls at 11.35am.

The man was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

The female driver of the car was not injured but was left shaken by the incident.

As a result of the accident, West Midlands Ambulance Service is urging all cyclists to wear a helmet. WMAS Medical Director, Dr Andy Carson said: “What is concerning about this case was the fact that the man was not wearing a cycle helmet.

“There is now a huge amount of research that shows that for many patients, the level of injury is significantly reduced in cases where the cyclist was wearing a helmet. “Wearing one doesn't mean you can be reckless; far from it. What a helmet does is provide some protection for your face, head, and brain in case you come off your bike.

“While wearing a helmet does not reduce the risk of injury entirely, it does significantly reduce the extent of injury due to impacts to the head, particularly with children.

“Cycle helmets do not need to be expensive but could make the difference between life and death. The cost is surely a price worth paying.”