Two mountain bikers injured in separate incidents at Cannock Chase

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called twice on Thursday morning to the Sherbrook Trail at the Staffordshire beauty spot.

In the first incident at around 9.40am, paramedics were called to reports that a middle-aged rider went over his handlebars after his bike came to a sudden stop, leaving him briefly unconscious.

An ambulance and a paramedic officer in a 4x4 vehicle were sent to the scene, with the 4x4 used to get close to where the injured man was.

He was taken to the Royal Stoke University Hospital for further treatment.

Two minutes after finishing the first case, the paramedic officer was assigned to a second incident where another middle-aged man had fallen on the Sherbrook Trail.

Another ambulance and the Hazardous Area Response Team were sent to the scene, after the call at 11.10am.

The caller reported that the rider had come off his bike while going down a slope and had landed heavily.

The 4x4 was again used and the rider was taken to Stafford's County Hospital.

A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "These were clearly very unfortunate accidents.

"Given the great weather, and the easing of lockdown, it is fantastic that we are all able to enjoy areas such as Cannock Chase.

“However, over the Bank Holiday, we would urge everyone to remember the need to keep socially distanced at all times and only meet up in the way the guidance sets out.

“This virus is far from over; we have to remember that hundreds of people are still dying every day.

"Yes, enjoy the wonderful area we live in, but please, make sure you do everything possible to reduce the risk of spreading this cruel virus.”