A 64-YEAR-OLD man is fighting for his life after the scooter he was riding crashed in Deane.

Nearby residents rushed to give the man CPR after the collision with a blue Toyota Yaris close to the Greenhill Avenue on Wigan Road.

The rider of the black Vespa scooter was airlifted to hospital where he remains in a "critical" condition following the crash at about 2.20pm on Sunday.

Those who treated him before the emergency services arrived said they "thought he was dead" at first as he did not appear to be breathing.

Police said he suffered chest, pelvis and head injuries, with onlookers saying he was given oxygen on the road before being taken to the ambulance.

The air ambulance landed in Haslam Park and transferred the man to Royal Preston Hospital's trauma unit.

The crash caused Wigan Road to be closed for about two hours between Melbourne Road and Junction Road.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said: "I could not see his face. By the time I came out his motorbike was on the floor and he was being treated by medics.

"They were giving him oxygen and he looked in a bad way the poor fellow.

"There was lots of police and fire engines.

"The guy from across the road thought he was dead when they first got to him.

"He did not seem to be breathing but they must have got him back to life.

"I was just taking to grandkids to the park so it was a bit of a shock when I saw the scene in front of me."

A spokesman for the North West Ambulance Service said: "We were called at 2.17pm to Wigan Road, outside the Royal Bank of Scotland.

"The patient was conveyed to Royal Preston Hospital by air ambulance."

"He was conscious and alert, and suffered a chest and pelvic injury."

A police spokesman said: "The rider of the scooter, aged 64, suffered serious injuries to his head, chest and pelvis and was taken via air ambulance to hospital where he remains in a critical condition.

"The driver of the Toyota was not injured.

"Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to call the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 0161 856 4745."