CHESHIRE Police are appealing for witnesses to a smash that left a woman motorcyclist with critical injuries over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The 40-year-old woman, from Hampshire, is currently fighting for her life in Leighton Hospital after the collision on the A51 in Wardle near to Nantwich on Saturday.

Emergency services were called to the scene after the woman's Yamaha Phaser 600 motorbike was in collision with a black Volkswagen Polo at about 10.25am just north of Nantwich.

The country road, which was closed following the collision as diversions were put in place, was the scene of another fatality in January this year when a 35-year-old Willaston mum lost her life in a traffic accident.

Police spokesman Jason Murray said: "The motorcycle lost control and ended up on the opposite carriageway where it collided with the VW Polo coming in the opposite direction.

"The female rider of the Yamaha is now in Leighton Hospital and has critical injuries although she was described as stable.

"We are appealing for witnesses in the area at the time to please come forward and give us any information so we can piece together the full details of the collision.

"We are also specifically appealing for the driver of a Saab motor vehicle, possibly one of the Saab Turbo 900s or 99s, to contact us.

"It is believed to have been in front of the motorcycle when the collision occurred."

A spokesman for the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service said: "When paramedics arrived on the scene at 10.44am they found the patient was rapidly losing consciousness and had severe difficulties breathing.

Anyone with information should contact Crewe traffic unit on 01244 613341.