A 19-YEAR-OLD motorcyclist has been left with serious head injuries after a four-vehicle crash near Warminster on Monday.

The motorcyclist, from Bristol, was airlifted to the Royal United Hospital in Bath after a collision with two cars on the notorious A36, between the Cley Hill and Crockerton roundabouts.

Police had to close the road for four hours, causing major tailbacks in Warminster town centre, as the Wiltshire Air Ambulance rushed to the scene.

The helicopter landed on the carriageway before taking the injured rider to hospital.

Despite receiving serious head injuries, the motorcyclist's condition is said to be improving.

His family is keeping a bedside vigil.

PC Pete Williamson said the motorcyclist was the only casualty but the police still needed witnesses to help piece together the cause of the smash.

He said: "He is improving slowly, so it is no longer a life or death situation, but it was a bit touch and go for a while."