Updated: A 26-YEAR-OLD cyclist was last night fighting for his life in hospital after being severely injured in a collision with a bus in York.

The man, who has not been named but is believed to be from the Acomb area, suffered head and chest injuries in the accident at the junction of Wetherby Road and Danebury Drive near Acomb Green.

He was taken to York Hospital but was transferred to a specialist unit for head injuries in Hull Royal Infirmary because of the severity of his injuries, said a spokesman for North Yorkshire Police.

The spokesman said yesterday that the cyclist was in a “critical, but stable condition after suffering life-threatening head injuries”.

Wetherby Road was closed to traffic by police for about four hours after the accident, which happened at about 8.30pm on Friday evening and involved First’s Number 4 bus, which runs between the University of York and Acomb.

Sgt Julian Pearson, of North Yorkshire Police, said the accident happened after the cyclist emerged from a side street into the path of the bus.

He said the bus windscreen was shattered by the impact when it was struck by the cyclist.

Collision investigation specialists carefully examined the scene for evidence after the collision before the road could be re-opened at 12.30am.

Sgt Pearson said the bus had dropped someone off shortly before the incident, and said the cyclist was not wearing a helmet or reflective clothing, and the bicycle did not have any lights.

First spokesman Duncan McGraw said: “We are assisting police with their investigation into this matter and will be carrying out our own thorough internal investigation. This will include looking at all available CCTV footage from the vehicle and we will be looking at this with immediate effect.”

Police are appealing to any witnesses to phone Sgt Pearson on 0845 6060247.