AN 81-year-old man was in hospital last night with serious head injuries after he was knocked from his bicycle.

The man, who has not being named, had been cycling along the Great North Road, at Gosforth, in Newcastle, on Saturday afternoon.

A blue Ford Orion, which was travelling north, struck him at the roundabout junction with Broadway East at 2.25pm, but failed to stop.

The pensioner was taken to Newcastle General Hospital.

Police said the car was later found abandoned on the nearby Montague estate. Two people have been arrested and released on police bail, pending further investigation

Anyone with information is urged to contact Northumbria Police on 0191-454 7555.