A  CYCLIST suffered serious head injuries after being hit by a truck on Teesside.

The man was taken to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough following the incident at about 7.30am on Monday morning in Billingham.

Police closed the A1185 from Marsh House Avenue to Seal Sands A178.

Staff from the Great North Air Ambulance were called to the scene.

A spokeswoman said: "The cyclist, a man in his 40s, sustained a serious head injury.

"The GNAAS crew, who responded in their rapid response car, anaesthetised the man at the scene before he was taken to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough by North East Ambulance Service.

"The GNAAS doctor accompanied the patient on route. The man was in a serious but stable condition upon arrival at hospital."