A MOTORCYCLIST remains in a "critical but stable" condition in hospital after he was seriously injured in a crash in Hawkshaw.

The male rider of the red Kawasaki bike is believed to have collided with street furniture in Ramsbottom Road at about 2.45pm on Sunday.

The 37-year-old, who has not been named, was taken to the Royal Preston Hospital by air ambulance, where he is being treated for head and chest injuries.

No other vehicles were involved in the accident, which happened along a straight stretch of road from the Red Lion pub in Tottington up to the India Gate restaurant.

Police officers are appealing to anyone who witnessed the collision, inparticular two other motorcyclists who are believed to have travelled past the scene, to come forward.

Concerned resident Patricia Hartigan, who lives yards away from where the crash happened, said: “I walked up to the scene and saw the motorbike on its side surrounded by lots of police cars.

“I do worry about the speed limit on this road, it’s not safe. It used to be 80mph many years ago and neighbours took their concerns to the council to get the speed restriction down to 40mph.

“It still isn’t good enough, because it was only two months ago there was another accident in the same place, although the car actually came off the road.”

Mrs Hartigan, who has lived at her home in Ramsbottom Road for 40 years, believes that the 30mph zone that begins at the Red Lion pub should be extended to the India Gate restaurant to improve safety.

Ashik Miah, owner of the India Gate restaurant, said: "We were walking past just after it happened, the police had closed the road and were turning cars away.

"We could see the motorbike on its side and there was a group of people around it.

"You really have to slow down when driving along there, and I think something needs to be done about it."

Concerns are also being raised about the junction outside the India Gate.

Writing on the Edgworth Village Facebook page, Nicolette Parkinson said: “That crossroads is awful especially coming from Affetside - you cannot see anything coming from the right.”

A spokesman for the North West Air Ambulance confirmed the casualty had been taken to the Royal Preston Hospital with multiple injuries.

A section of the road was closed off by police and re-opened after 6pm.

Anyone with information about the crash should call the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 0161 856 4745.