A CYCLIST who is fighting for his life after crashing in the Lake District may be from the North-East.

Police in Cumbria are trying to find the family of the man who was critically injured in a collision with a motorbike near Thirlmere at 11.10am yesterday.

He was carrying no identification and nobody fitting his description has been reported missing.

The man, who is aged between 30 and 50, was airlifted to Preston Hospital from the scene of the accident at Dunmail Raise, on the A591.

He was riding from Ambleside towards Keswick when his bike was in collision with a grey 1200cc motorbike travelling in the same direction.

The cyclist is white, with an athletic, stocky build. He has blue eyes and short, crew cut, strawberry blonde red hair.

He had a silver hoop in his left ear and was wearing a white cycling top and black Spd cycling shorts.

His bike is a distinctive black Ribble carbon fibre road racing bike with the logo Skuro HCR on the frame.

Sgt Paul Brown, of Cumbria's road policing unit, said: "We are doing everything we can to identify this man.

"He is in a very critical condition in hospital at the moment and it is of the utmost importance that we let his family know where he is."

The motorcyclist, a 45-year-old man from Preston and his 46-year-old pillion passenger were unhurt.

The northbound carriageway of the A591 was closed for five hours while police investigated.

Anyone with information should call Cumbria police on 0845-3300-247.