A POLICE helicopter crew have been called in to help search for a hit and run driver who is on the loose.

A motorist involved in a collision which has left a cyclist in a critical condition is being hunted by police.

The accident happened in Ulverston, at the junction of Park Road and Priory Road, yesterday and involved a black VW Polo and a male cyclist.

The cyclist was taken to the Royal Preston Hospital via air ambulance in a critical condition.

The vehicle has been located by police abandoned in the nearby area.

Police were actively looking for the vehicle at the time of the collision following incidents committed in the Lancashire area.

The first incident happened shortly before midday when a 60-year-old woman was sitting in the passenger side of a Range Rover Evoque in the car park at Forton Services Northbound.

A man got into the car and made threats towards her. She managed to get out of the car and raise the alarm and the man left the vehicle before making off from the scene in a white transit van and headed north on to the motorway.

A second incident was reported shortly after 12.30pm today at Truckhaven Services in Carnforth. An elderly woman was driving her black Volkswagen Polo into the services and was followed by a white van.

As she parked up, a man got into the passenger side and demanded that she get out of the car. The woman got out and the man drove off in her Polo.

The male driver involved in the Lancashire incidents is described as 5ft 10 inches, with dark blond hair, of stocky build, wearing jeans and a white-coloured t-shirt.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A police helicopter is circling Ulverston tonight <a href="https://t.co/6cUacckQuP">pic.twitter.com/6

Supt Rob O’Connor said: “We ask anyone who has seen the man involved to contact police immediately. He is believed to be dangerous so we ask that you do not approach him.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We are searching for a man involved in a collision in Ulverston at 3.20pm, pls do not approach him and call 101: <a href="https://t.co/Mnzw1tuu0e">https://t.co/Mnzw1tuu0e</a></p>— Cumbria Police (@Cumbriapolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cumbriapolice/status/890249579928670208">July 26, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The collision has been referred to the Constabulary's Professional Standards Department.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.