A MOUNTAIN biker was airlifted to hospital after suffering suspected broken ribs on trails near Bacup.

Mountain rescue volunteers, paramedics and the North West Air Ambulance were alerted to the incident at Lee Quarry, near Futures Park, around 1.50pm on Sunday.

The rider, aged 43, who has not been named, had injured his chest and arms on one of the Adrenaline Gateway courses.

Graham Dally, of the Rossendale and Pendle mountain rescue team, said half a dozen volunteers were scrambled to the scene within 10 minutes by pager.

“We were contacted by the air ambulance and our members attended to give the stretcher a lift to the ambulance, waiting nearby,” he said.

“Luckily we were at Peel Tower, near Ramsbottom, and most people were able to get there quite quickly.”

Jane Rotherham, North West Air Ambulance spokesman, said para-medics had been treating the casualty at the scene when a crew arrived.

The man was transferred for treatment to the Royal Blackburn Hospital within seven minutes, she added.

The incident is the second in a fortnight at the quarry, which attracts riders from all over the North West.

It has around 8km of tough technical mountain bike trails comprising rock gardens, drop-offs, tabletop jumps and challenging climbs.

Emergency crews were called to the same site on March 16, when a rider suffered injuries to his face and arm, just before 6pm.

But he was able to walk to a waiting ambulance for treatment.