A CYCLIST suffered a fractured skull in a hit- and-run collision with a motorbike on an Oxford estate.

Monica Reddick, 43, who is also known as Claire, is recovering in hospital after the crash on Knights Road, in Blackbird Leys, at about 2.30pm yesterday.

Mrs Reddick, of Blackbird Leys Road, was cycling to Kestrel Crescent allotments carrying lunch for her husband Huw when she was involved in a collision with a dark-coloured motorcycle.

The motorcyclist did not stop and passers-by raced to Mrs Reddick’s aid. They used her mobile phone to alert her husband.

She was unconscious and taken by ambulance to Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital in a serious condition with head injuries.

She was still in hospital last night as Mr Reddick, 45, appealed for the motorcyclist to come forward. He said: “She’s got a small fracture to the base of her skull. But she is still bleeding from the ear so they are keeping her in for observations.

“I’d like the motorcyclist to come forward but I’ll leave it up to his conscience.

“The only reason you would leave the scene was if you had something to hide.

“I know I would never dream of going away from an accident site, especially if someone was this badly injured. I’m sure it wouldn’t enter many people’s minds.”

The couple, who have been married for nine years, had spent yesterday at the allotments.

Mrs Reddick, who works for the British Potato Council, in Cowley, cycled back to their home to pick up lemonade, hats and some lunch and it was on her return journey when the crash happened.

Mr Reddick added: “She wasn’t wearing a helmet, unfortunately. I keep telling her, but maybe now she will in the future.

“To be honest, she is very lucky, because it could have been a lot worse.”

Police remained at the scene for more than an hour to launch an investigation into the crash. Mrs Reddick’s bicycle was removed for forensic tests.

Pc Tony Lee said: “We are urging the driver of the motorcycle to contact us.”

The collision happened near where a cyclist was struck by a car and dragged along the ground for about 40ft at the junction of Blackbird Leys Road and Cuddesdon Way last October.

Police have named Rohan Crooks, 31, as the driver of the car and are appealing for information in a bid to make an arrest for attempted murder.

The two hit-and-runs are not being linked. Call police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.