A PENSIONER suffered serious head injuries after a collision between a bus he was travelling in and a pedal cyclist.

The collision happened on Saturday, at around 10.45am, in North Avenue, Chelmsford, as the bus was heading towards Melbourne Avenue.

It is believed it may have had to brake suddenly because of the cyclist, causing the injuries to the 90-year-old man.

The pensioner, from Chelmsford, was taken by air ambulance to Queen’s Hospital, Romford, where he remains in a critical but stable condition.

The cyclist is believed to have left the scene and was the subject of a police appeal. An 18-year-old man was later arrested over the incident.

Residents who live near the scene of the crash expressed their shock.

Maureen Webb, 65, said: “I was in the back and all of a sudden I heard a loud screeching of brakes.

"I came out to see what had happened, as did most people in the street, and the bus had had to stop suddenly for a bike.

“The police were here for a very long time afterwards.”

Another resident, who didn’t want to be named, said: “One of my neighbours said the man on the bus had got glass in his eye because his glasses broke.

“The police were here for about five hours, so we knew it must have been serious. I just hope the man is OK.”

She added: “You often see teenagers riding bikes along here with no respect for themselves or anyone else. They even go up the road the wrong way quite often.”

Another neighbour, who wouldn’t give her name, said: “It was really upsetting to know what happened to the old man. It has really shaken me up.”

Police are looking for witnesses. Anyone with information is asked to call PC Lance Hutchins at the serious collision investigation unit on 101 or e-mail collisionappeal@essex.pnn.police.uk

* An 18-year-old man from Chelmsford has been bailed in connection with the incident.