A PENSIONER is in 'critical condition' after being airlifted to hospital following a crash on the Coast Road.

The Barrow Coast road is currently closed in both directions from Rampside roundabout to Long Lane following a 'serious' road traffic collision.

An eyewitness said a 'bad accident' was the cause of the closure and that he saw two air ambulances in attendance at the scene. 

Live updates: Motorists redirected from Coast Road as air ambulance attends crash

This has now been corroborated by police, who have said that they were called to the incident at 2.11pm on Thursday afternoon after a two-vehicle collision involving a Mini Cooper and a Skoda Fabia.

Police, ambulance and HeliMed attended the scene and two people were airlifted to hospital. An 88-year-old woman is in a critical condition while a man in his 20s has suffered serious injuries not believed to be life-threatening.

The road will remain closed for a 'number of hours' while investigations are undertaken, the vehicles are recovered and the road is made safe.

No vehicles - including bicycles - are being allowed on or off the road.

Congestion will be experienced and emergency services have asked drivers to plan their routes accordingly.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or with information is asked to report it to police via www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it. You can also call 101.

The incident reference to include is Log 110 of the 27th of October.