Rescuers at the scene of the mountain biking incidents near Todmorden. Photo: Calder Valley SRT

Rescuers were called to help two injured mountain bikers in separate incidents at the same South Pennines location.

Calder Valley Search and Rescue Team was alerted on Sunday after a rider came off his machine on a downhill course while taking part in an event at Todmorden.

Ambulance staff asked for assistance to deal with the first incident when the man crashed at the site near Carr Road.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance also flew to the scene and joined 14 team members in treating the rider for head and spinal injuries. He was then packed into a vacuum mattress and placed on the rescue team’s Bell stretcher and carried to the helicopter, which had landed in a nearby field. He was then flown to hospital for further treatment.

Calder Valley SRT member Tim Ingram said: “Just after the team were stood down from this incident, we received notification of another incident involving an injured rider at the same location.

“The team quickly responded and treated the casualty, who was then transferred to A&E by his friend.

“Team vehicles eventually left the location to return to base, repacked kit and replenished any used medical equipment.”

The team’s volunteers were involved for three hours in the two incidents.