A motorcyclist was badly injured in a smash which shut a main road last night.

It is believed the biker may have ploughed into the back of a Mercedes van having been blinded by the sun.

The accident happened at just after 6pm on the A62 Manchester Road, Milnsbridge , near to the junction with Factory Lane.

Emergency services rushed to the scene and the air ambulance was scrambled.

As many as 10 police vehicles, two ambulances and two responder cars attended.

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The man, who has not been named, suffered serious injuries though they were not believed to be life-threatening.

The helicopter was not needed and the man was taken by road ambulance, escorted by three police cars, to Leeds General Infirmary.

Crash on Manchester Road
Crash on Manchester Road

Local people said it appeared the motorcyclist, riding a white Honda machine, heading in the direction of Linthwaite , had struck the back of the black Mercedes van.

No-one else was reported to be injured.

Police closed Manchester Road between the junctions of Factory Lane and Whiteley Street for at least two hours.

Stacie Holdsworth, 23, who lives nearby with her boyfriend Daniel Fletcher, 26, heard the sound of the accident and went outside.

“I heard the bang and saw a woman directing the traffic,” she said. “A few cars had stopped and the police were here very quickly.

“I saw the motorcyclist being treated in the road and at one point he tried to stand up.”

Daniel said that stretch of road had seen a number of accidents and added: “People generally go far too fast. This is a very dangerous road.

“The sun was very low last night. I was dazzled as I walked up the road.”

There are no speed cameras on this part of Manchester Road.

Daniel told how there was another accident just outside their home a few weeks ago when a  car ploughed through a wall.