A MAN remains in a serious condition in hospital after he was hit by a motorcycle on a busy Darlington road last night.

The 44-year-old underwent surgery at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough this morning (Thursday, April 12) following the collision on Yarm Road last night.

Police closed off Yarm Road following the accident, which happened around 7.50pm and led to the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) being called.

It arrived within three minutes and landed near to Mayflower Court care home.

A GNAAS spokesman said medics had airlifted a man in his 40s with "life-threatening head injuries" to James Cook.

He was treated by the air ambulance's Army consultant doctor, Simon Le Clerc, a paramedic and other emergency staff while in the road. The patient was then anaesthetised and prepared for the flight.

Treatment continued while he was onboard and the aircraft landed at the hospital six minutes after leaving.

The accident happened some distance up from Hundens Lane and brought residents flocking out onto the street.

Many stood watching from nearby as paramedics worked on the patient.

As he was being readied for the helicopter police put tape up and asked them to move back, away from the immediate scene.

The road reopened an hour or so afterwards.