Updated: A CYCLIST aged 82 is in hospital with head injuries after a car collided with her bicycle near Heworth shops.

The woman, who comes from the York area, was riding along East Parade at 1.50pm when the incident happened. She had just turned into the road from Bull Lane. An ambulance crew treated her at the scene before taking her by road to York Hospital where she underwent tests. The extent of her injuries is not yet known.

The road was partially closed and accident investigators spent most of the afternoon at the scene. Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident or can help them with their inquiries to contact them.

Members of the public alerted the emergency services when they saw the cyclist lying on the road close to the zebra crossing near the junction of Bull Lane and East Parade.

The 82-year-old woman was riding a turquoise bicycle which collided with a Toyota Yaris outside Heworth shops and Heworth Post Office. The car immediately stopped and its driver was given assistance from a paramedic who attended the scene. It had been heading towards the city centre.

Bystanders directed traffic and kept it moving while the emergency services tended to the injured and started their investigations.

Police took over traffic duties and closed part of the road once reinforcements arrived. They are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them with information.

Traffic Sergeant Julian Pearson, of North Yorkshire Police’s Roads Policing Group, said: “I am urging anyone who witnessed the collision to get in touch with the police as soon as possible.

“I would like to speak to anyone who saw the collision itself or the Toyota Yaris, which had followed a large vehicle down East Parade from the direction of Melrosegate, prior to the collision. Any information could be vital to the investigation.”

Anyone who witnessed the collision is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police by dialling 101, selecting option 2 and asking for Traffic Constable Paul Stamp, quoting reference number NYP-15032012-0265.