A MOTORCYCLIST is recovering in hospital after suffering serious injuries in a crash on the Weymouth to Bridport coast road.

Emergency services rushed to the B3157 just outside Swyre at around 7pm this evening.

The Portland Coastguard rescue helicopter was scrambled to the scene and took a 57-year-old Weymouth man to the Dorset County Hospital.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash.

It was first thought that the man had suffered life threatening injuries so the helicopter was called in and major diversions put in place from the Crown roundabout at Bridport and New Road junction in Portesham.

But his injuries were later downgraded to 'serious but not life threatening' and the road was reopened at 10pm.

Police have appealed for witnesses and thanked the public for their help.

A spokesman said: "At about 650pm this evening Dorset Police were called to a report of a single vehicle road traffic collision involving a motorcyclist ridden by a 57 year old male from the Weymouth area on the B3157 coast road west of Swyre.

"Police and ambulance personnel attended the scene. Due to an initial assessment of the rider's injuries by paramedics as life threatening road and closures and diversions were put in place in anticipation of a scene investigation by the traffic department.

"Happily the severity of the rider's condition was later downgraded and officers were able to recover the involved vehicle and re-open the roads."

He added: "The rider was taken by the coastguard helicopter to the Dorset County Hospital where he is being treated for serious but not life threatening injuries.

"Police would like to thank those members of the public who stopped at the scene to render assistance to the casualty and later made themselves known to the police to what they had witnessed.

"Witnesses are asked to contact the western traffic section in Weymouth on 101 quoting incident number 28;449."

A spokesman for Portland Coastguard said: “We were called to act as an air ambulance for an injured 58-year-old man.

“He was taken to Dorset County Hospital.”

Nicky Lane, of Vurlands Farm, said: “The coastguard helicopter landed.

“I saw the police turning people back. It was going for quite a long time.”

Cyril Loveridge, of Chesil Beach Lodge, said: “I saw police cars, or paramedics go past.

“I saw one then another a bit later on.”

Anyone with information or who witnessed the crash should contact Dorset Police on 101 quoting reference number 28;449