A NETHERTON resident has spoken about a crash between a bike and a car which left a motorcyclist in hospital in a critical condition.

Madge Cole, 65, was a witness to the aftermath of the collision, which took place at 5pm on Thursday (June 11) at the junction of Church Road and Marriott Road.

She told The News how after hearing a 'bang' she looked out of her window and saw the injured motorcyclist lying on the ground.

Mrs Cole called 999, by which time other passersby had gathered to try to help.

“I think one was a nurse and she seemed to take control,” she said. “Then police and ambulance crew arrived and paramedics were working on the lad here for quite some time before taking him to hospital.

“The bike was a wreck and the lad's motorcycle helmet had flown off and landed yards away.

“An air ambulance landed at Hillcrest playing fields but I think in the end a land ambulance took him to hospital.”

The 22-year-old biker, who also lives in Netherton, suffered a head injury when his red Yamaha collided with a black Honda Civic.

West Midlands Police said the man is still in critical condition.

The road was closed for several hours while specialist collision reconstruction staff examined the scene to establish what happened.

The driver of the car, who has not been arrested, is helping officers with their inquiries.