A 25-year-old man from Rochester has been arrested on suspicion of assault following an alleged “road rage” incident which left a cyclist with serious head injuries.

The man, in his 60s, is also believed to have suffered a fit and remains in hospital after the incident in Rochester High Street last Sunday morning at about 10am.

Witnesses said the victim was involved in an altercation with a motorcyclist near the bridge.

He was airlifted to King’s College Hospital, London, by the Kent Air Ambulance, which landed on a grass area on the Esplanade.

A witness, who did not wish to be named, said the cyclist fell to the floor and appeared to have a fit, prompting a member of the public to put him in the recovery position.

A baseball cap and a blood-stained item of clothing were left on the pavement outside The Crown pub.

The area outside the pub was cordoned off by police and a crowd of people watched as the helicopter landed.

A woman, who did not wish to be named, said: “We were sitting on the grass on the Esplanade and we saw the helicopter.

"It looked quite serious with all of the police cars.”

The incident did not have anything to do with The Crown, which was open as usual.

The man arrested has been released pending further inquiries.