A MOTORCYCLIST is fighting for his life in hospital after a crash on the southbound A19 near Billingham on Thursday.

A collision involving the motorbike, a blue Ford Fiesta and a red Honda Civic brought the road to a standstill at about 4pm, and had a knock-on effect causing delays on the A66 near Stockton.

The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) flew the male motorcyclist, in his 40s and from the Eaglescliffe area, to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough with leg injuries, internal injuries, a dislocated shoulder and broken ribs.

Medics from the GNAAS performed roadside surgery to stabilise the patient, who was said to have critical, life-threatening injuries, before flying him to hospital. His condition on arrival was described as stable.

Police closed the A19 in both directions whilst the air ambulance landed and roads were reopened at around 5.25pm.

Any witnesses to the collision are asked to contact PC Paula Metcalfe-Smith from the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit on the non-emergency number 101, quoting event number 084492.