A BIKER suffered a serious leg injury after colliding with a car near a railway bridge.

The man, aged in his 50s, was treated at the scene in Spa Road, Hockley, for about an hour before being taken to Broomfield Hospital, in Chelmsford, by ambulance.

The East Anglian Air Ambulance was also called out, landing at Hockley Bowling Club, in Highams Road, at about 4pm on Saturday.

Club treasurer Alec Gibb said the helicopter turned up just as a friendly match against Benfleet and Canvey Bowls Club was finishing.

He said: “I didn’t know much about the accident. It was quite unusual to see the helicopter up.

“It sort of came around and around a few times. The way he was coming in was so low- he was hovering just above the houses- it was obvious he wanted to land.

“I just sort of gave him the thumbs up. The ground is nice and firm. The medics then went off down to where the accident was.

“They didn’t mess around. If someone is involved in an accident they have got to get to people as soon as possible.

“The man was taken by ambulance to hospital. They came back and posed for a picture.”

The 75-year-old said he believed the helicopter had considered landing near the nearby Hockley Royal British Legion, but chose the bowls club because the ground was flatter.

He said the club is a keen supporter of the air ambulance, regularly raising money by playing small stake competitions.

Last year £107 was raised for the cause.

A motorist who saw the aftermath of the crash said the biker looking “in a bad way.”

The eyewitness, who asked not to be named, said: “It looked like the man was wearing a jacket and helmet and seemed to be conscious but they were still very careful with moving him.

“Police put a roadblock while it was all going on. It was all quite impressive actually.”

Drivers were diverted along Station Road while the road was cleared and investigations were carried out.

An Ambulance service spokesman said: “The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust received a call at 4.07pm on Saturday, July 16 to Spa Road, Hockley, to a collision between a motorbike and car.

“A rapid response vehicle, ambulance crew and Essex Air Ambulance attended.

“They treated a man, believed to be in his 50s, who had suffered a serious leg injury.

“He was taken by land ambulance to Broomfield Hospital.”