A YOUNG cyclist was taken to hospital with a head injury and a broken leg after being knocked off his bike in a crash.

An ambulance took the 11-year-old to Worcestershire Royal Hospital after the crash in Astwood Road, Worcester, today.

It is believed the boy was on a BMX or stunt-style bike and was not wearing a helmet when the crash happened at 8.11am.

Crash investigations are now under way.

A learner driver was behind the wheel of a white Seat Ibiza involved in the collision.

PC Diane Stevens, a roads policing officer, said the boy had a head injury and a broken leg.

She is appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident to contact West Mercia Police.

PC Stevens said: “We cannot stress enough the importance of wearing a helmet. They can save lives.”

She described the learner driver as “very shaken” by what happened, but hoped she would be able to continue as soon as possible with her lessons.

Father-of-three Paul Taylor, 45, of Field Road, was one of the first on the scene, bringing out three blankets to keep the boy warm.

Mr Taylor said: “He was conscious. He was talking. He had a very nasty head injury over his eye. It was very swollen, almost the size of a tennis ball. 

“I opened the back door, heard a loud bang and I came running out. He was lying on the ground.”

He said although there was a visible injury to his leg between the pelvis and the knee, he was more worried about his head.

“He wasn’t wearing a helmet,” said Mr Taylor.

He said two off-duty nurses helped.

Jas Seakho, owner of Premier Astwood Convenience, said: “He was on a BMX. It was one of those stunt-type bikes. 

“A young lad came in and said there had been an accident. He was just lying on the floor. He wasn’t moving. I called 999.”

A man directed traffic until police arrived and closed the road, he said.

He added: “There are crashes on this road all the time. There’s probably a crash every six weeks and I have been here four years. There has to be more done to make it safe. 

“The only way they’re going to act is if there is a fatality. It’s a disgrace.”

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 8.14am, and sent one ambulance to the scene at the junction between Field Road and Astwood Road in Worcester. 

Police closed Astwood Road but opened it again at 10.55am.

The ambulance service say the boy was fully conscious and his condition is not thought to be serious. 

Those who witnessed the crash are asked to contact PC Diane Stevens at West Mercia Police on 101, quoting incident reference 83s071316.

The closure of Astwood Road caused considerable traffic congestion throughout the morning.