AN ELDERLY pedestrian was airlifted to hospital with serious head injuries after he was struck by a car in York.

The man, in his 80s, was taken to Leeds General Infirmary following the crash involving a dark grey Ford Focus at about 3.50pm yesterday outside the York Fairfield Manor Hotel on the A19 Shipton Road in Skelton.

The injured pensioner was wearing a blue top and dark coloured trousers and police are appealing for anyone who saw the man prior to the collision, or witnessed the incident, to contact them as soon as possible. The man remained in hospital last night with serious head injuries.

The crash saw both directions of the road shut for more than four-and-a-half hours as officers began investigating the cause of the collision. Heavy traffic was reported well into the evening as the scene was cleared.

Police, an ambulance, an air ambulance, a rapid response vehicle and a clinical manager all attended the scene. Witnesses are asked to phone TC Ian McKenzie on 101.