The West has suffered numerous serious road crashes in the last few days, causing tailbacks, disruption and the death of a middle-aged cyclist.

The victim in his 40s or 50s died after a collision on a busy commuter road near Bristol on Monday morning.

He was hit as he rode his bike on the A370 at Flax Bourton, just after 6.30am, between Station Road and the B3128.

He was taken to Bristol Royal Infirmary but died later in the day and has not yet been identified.

The Long Ashton bypass was closed in both directions until the afternoon, while collision investigators examined the scene.

Great Western Ambulance Service (GWAS) critical care paramedic Greg Leeson said: "The patient had very serious head, chest, pelvic and leg injuries."

Paramedic Chris Hewett, who attended the scene as one of the ambulance crew, highlighted the dangers of providing treatment on busy roads.

He said: "Ambulance crews are very vulnerable at road accidents, particularly at night, until the police are able to close the road. During this incident, a passing motorist nearly crashed into the ambulance at the scene.

"Minutes later, another passing car skidded into the rear of a lorry, metres away from the critically ill patient as he was being lifted aboard the ambulance.

"On behalf of all my colleagues, I would like to appeal to drivers to avoid 'rubber necking' and be extremely cautious when the emergency services are working in or by the road."

Avon and Somerset police would like to hear from anyone who was driving along the by-pass at the time of the crash who may have information to help with enquiries. They should call the Collision Investigation Unit on 0845 4567000.

There were also long traffic delays on the M5 motorway near Bristol for much of yesterday when junction 16 at Aztec West was closed after a lorry overturned.

The crash at 5am caused a diesel spillage and blocked two lanes of the northbound carriageway, and soon traffic was tailing back to J18a with the M49 at Avonmouth.

There was also a nasty crash in Dorset on Sunday night when a Sturminster Newton man's car hit a bank on the Bath Road and ended up on its roof, blocking the road.

The blue Ford Fiesta crashed at about 9.27pm and completely blocked the road.

By the time the emergency services arrived the driver was out of the car, conscious and breathing but had suffered a "serious blow" to his head. He was taken to Dorset County Hospital to be treated but was not in a life-threatening condition. The road was open again by 11pm.

As reported yesterday, the terrible weather at the weekend also caused chaos across the region.

Two people died and dozens were evacuated from their homes as flash floods swept across parts of the West.

Henry Collier, 86, died on Saturday night trying to walk free from his flooded car after his Ford became submerged in a country lane in South Petherton, Somerset.

And in Dorset, a 22-year-old woman was killed when her car left the road and crashed in heavy rain.

Officers are investigating whether the weather was a factor in the accident on the A35 at Upton, Poole, on Friday night. It is thought the woman, from Poole, may have aqua-planed after hitting a standing water.