A CYCLIST was airlifted to hospital with a fractured pelvis after trying to avoid a sheep which had run into the road.

The man, who has not been named, was part way through the John O'Groats to Lands End bike ride with a group of friends when the incident happened at 10am on Saturday.

Paramedics said they believed the cyclist was travelling about 40mph along the High Bentham to Slaidburn Road, close to Hillside Farm, when he swerved to avoid the sheep, fell off his bike and landed in a ditch.

He was taken to the Royal Lancaster Hospital by the North West Air Ambulance.