Land and air ambulance crews went to the aid of an injured cyclist at Dereham today.

The emergency happened at about 1.20pm on land in the Middlemarch Road area close to the A47 Dereham bypass.

East of England Ambulance Service spokeswoman Joy Hale said the rider was in his mid-20s and was thought to have been practising some manoeuvres when he came off his bike.

After the accident he was falling in and out of consciousness, she added.

A crew from the East Anglian Air Ambulance charity was scrambled and landed in the Toftwood Fen area of the town to assist.

But in the event the injured rider was taken to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital by land ambulance, said Ms Hale.

She added: 'When we took him, he had regained consciousness and was given some advance stabilising treatment by the aircrews, supported by the ambulance and RRV (rapid-response vehicle) clinicians who were also sent to the scene.'

Ms Hale said the man's injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.