A man has been airlifted to hospital after a serious crash north of Carlisle.

Cumbria Constabulary has closed the A7 going out of Longtown just over Longtown Bridge.

The crash involved a car and a motorcyclist.

Two elderly people were released from the vehicle by firefighters but it is understood they were not seriously injured.

The road was closed for an extensive period while investigation work took place.

A spokesman for the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) said: "We flew at 4.23pm from Langwathby to the scene near Longtown to assist the North West Ambulance Service with a patient involved in a road traffic collision.

"We had both a paramedic and doctor onboard. After treatment at the scene, the patient was flown to hospital."

The News & Star understands that it was the motorcyclist who was injured.

GNAAS were unable to confirm which hospital the patient was flown to but said the journey time took more than 20 minutes.

The road has now reopened.