A motorcyclist has been rushed to hospital by air ambulance in a serious condition after crashing head-on into a car.

The 38-year-old man, from Southend, was riding his Kawasaki ZX 600 down London Road, in Westcliff, when he smashed into the side of a Toyota Corolla being driven by a 79-year-old man from Shoebury.

One witness, who has asked to remain anonymous, described the moment the bike hit the car.

The local business owner said: “It was awful. We were just chatting by the side of the road and heard an almighty crash.

“It was such an explosive sound. When you hear that awful noise of metal, plastic and glass crunching you know almost instantly what has happened.

“The front of the bike had gone straight into the side of the car. The rider had fallen off and landed on the ground and the bike looked completely ruined.

“I was the first one who went over to him. His eyes were half-open but he was in a seriously bad way and wasn’t responding. 

“There was not much I could do. I couldn’t see any obvious injuries because he was wearing good protective gear but he seemed in a very bad way.”

Police vehicles closed the road and two ambulances and an air ambulance were sent to the scene to treat the biker.

“The paramedics were treating him for a long time. They were using all sorts of equipment.

“The air ambulance landed in Chalkwell Park and it took off shortly after they wheeled the stretched over there.

“The emergency services all did a fantastic job at treating him and controlling the scene. I hope the biker pulls through ok.”

Another witness who was travelling on a bus at the time said: “The bike was all mangled and the man was in the road with ambulance staff having to use a device to pump air and breathe for him. I really hope the man is okay.

A spokesman for the ambulance service said: “We received a call at 5.41pm on Thursday, March 9 to reports of a traffic incident.

“We sent two ambulances, an ambulance officer and the air ambulance.

“The patient, a male, was airlifted to St George’s Hospital in London by the air ambulance with multiple injuries in a serious condition.”

The rider was taken to St George’s Hospital in London in an air ambulance where he remains in a serious condition.

“You could tell the driver was very shaken once he realised what had happened. He pulled over a bit further down the street and someone went over to make sure he was ok.”

Police put cordons in place and the road was closed in both directions between Southbourne Grove and Leigh Road near Chalkwell Park and there were long delays in both directions.

Residents reported that nearby Westbourne Grove was also blocked and traffic from London was being effected.

Arriva diverted their number 1 bus service via alternative routes, leaving some customers thinking they were stranded.

The road was reopened by 10.30pm after police investigators had carried out a forensic examination of the scene.

The local business owner added: “They were doing all sorts of tests in the road. I even saw them driving a police car and timing how long it took to brake on that road surface.”

A spokesman for the police force said: “Police are appealing for witnesses after a motorcyclist was seriously injured in a road traffic collision in Westcliff.

“A Toyota Corolla and a Kawasaki ZX 600 were in collision on the A13 London Road, at the junction with Chalkwell Avenue, at 5.45pm on Thursday March 9.

“The motorcyclist, a 38-year-old man from Southend, suffered multiple injuries and was airlifted to hospital. 

“The driver, a 79-year-old man from Shoebury, was unhurt. The road was reopened by 10.30pm.

“Witnesses are asked to call Pc Jack Sneath at Chigwell Roads Policing Unit on 101.”