A 63-year-old man has been airlifted to hospital after crashing into a gas pipe in Cuffley.

Police, the ambulance service and an air ambulance were called following reports that a man driving a Fiesta had collided with a gas pipe in Station Road at around 3pm this afternoon (August 3).

The air ambulance was called and took him to hospital in a life-threatening condition, a police spokeswoman said.

She added it was believed he had been taken ill at the wheel.

Graham Page, 62, was eating outside a nearby cafe and was one of the first on the scene after he heard a loud bang and saw mud flying everywhere.

He said he jumped into the car to turn off the engine, and around 20 people rushed over to help – including an undercover police officer who was tending to the driver.

Graham said once he realised the gas pipe had been broken he was trying to get people away from the area – particularly as there was some smoke coming from the car.

The road has been blocked off by police to allow gas pipe repairs to take place.

Updates to follow.