Police have appealed for witnesses after a motorcyclist was seriously injured in a road crash near Wickford.

Officers were called to Runwell Road at about 8.45am today following reports of a collision between a silver Ford Ka and a white Yamaha motorbike.

The rider, a man in his 20s from the Purleigh area, was airlifted to the Royal London Hospital with serious head and leg injuries.

His condition was later described as 'stable'.

The female car driver, who is from the Wickford, area went to Basildon Hospital for treatment for shock and a foot injury.

Police closed the road until about 1.15pm while initial investigations were carried out.

Any witnesses who have not yet contacted police, or anyone with information about events leading to the collision, should contact Pc Andy Sumner at Chelmsford road policing office on 101 or email him at andrew.sumner@essex.pnn.police.uk