A CYCLIST remains critically ill in hospital after being knocked off his bike at a crossroads.
The 55-year-old was injured as he cycled through Castleside, near Consett at lunchtime on Easter Monday.
The injured man, from Pelton, near Chester-le-Street, was cycling down the A68 Rowley Bank through the village, heading towards Allensford, at about 12.30pm.
He has reached Castleside crossroads when a blue Saab 93 car pulled out and collided with his cycle.
The cyclist was thrown from his bike and suffered a number of serious injuries to his head and body.
He was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle, where his condition was this morning described as critical but stable.
The driver of the car, a 50-year-old man from Gateshead was unhurt, as were his three passengers.
The road was closed to traffic until 5pm while both vehicles were recovered from the scene and collision investigators carried out initial enquiries.
Any witnesses to the accident are asked to contact the collision investigation unit at Durham Constabulary on 0191-375-2159.
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