A 46-year-old motorcyclist from the Chippenham area is fighting for his life in hospital following a four vehicle crash on the Devizes to Rushall Road on Tuesday shortly before 4.30pm.

Police have not named the male rider of the black Suzuki 1200 who was airlifted to Frenchay Hospital at Bristol with serious head and chest injuries and whose condition was described as critical.

Officers said the motorbike was being ridden along the A342 towards Rushall when it was involved in a collision at Wilsford, near the Hilcott turning, with a Toyota Prius and then with an red Alfa Romeo that was travelling in the opposite direction.

A white Nissan Cabstar truck was also involved.

Police traffic officer PC Jamie Gothard said: “The motorcycle is believed to have struck the rear of the Toyota Prius and then collided with the front of the oncoming Alfa Romeo.”

He added: “The road remained closed for about four hours while the casualty was evacuated and police carried out their investigation.”

Air ambulance paramedic Bruce Jarvis said a number of members of the public had stopped to help the injured rider until a paramedic had arrived in an ambulance car.

He said: “From what I could see there were a couple of riders on different bikes and the one involved in the collision was lying on the ground.

“The rider was conscious and talking and we could see he had a head injury. It was a case of prioritising where to take him and because of the head injury we decided to take him straight to Frenchay.”

Police have appealed for any witnesses who have not already spoken to officers to contact PC Gothard at the roads policing unit at Amesbury, on (01722) 435208.