A CYCLIST was seriously injured after colliding with a lorry on a busy Essex road.

Police have appealed for witnesses to the accident on the A133 near Elmstead Market yesterday afternoon.

The road was shut for five hours after the cyclist, a man aged about 65 - 70 years, collided with a red Mercedes flat bed lorry.

He suffered serious head injuries and was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge for specialist treatment.

The collision happened as the cyclist on a yellow and white racing bike travelled towards Elmstead Market from Colchester.

The driver of the lorry, a 35-year-old man from Harwich, was arrested at the scene in relation to the crash.

He has been released on bail until September 13.

Police investigating the collision have appealed for witnesses who saw the collision or saw the cyclist shortly beforehand to contact at Stanway road policing unit on 0300 333 4444.