A CYCLIST seriously injured in Darwen has woken up in hospital.

David Bury was found by a taxi driver just after 3am on Friday lying on the pavement in Goosehouse Lane.

The 49-year-old, of Westminster Close, Darwen, suffered a fractured skull and neck and was put under sedation at Preston hospital.

Investigating officer Sgt Mick Young said: “He has had another operation on his neck and is now awake in hospital and is moving his arms and legs.

“He is slowly but surely coming to.”

Sgt Young said it was “far too early” for police, who are trying to work out how the keen cyclist ended up so badly hurt, to speak to him.

Police admit there are “more questions than answers” as they try to piece together what happened.

Mr Bury's worried family has been keeping a vigil at his hospital bed. He has two teenage children and has lived in Darwen all his life.

Mr Bury, who is well-known in the town’s cycling fraternity and also a keen motorcyclist, works as a television engineer.

He had left the Crown and Thistle Inn, in Roman Road, Hoddlesden, on his mountain bike at about 2.45am.

His sister Alison Keough said he been at the pub with a group of cycling friends who had a Thursday night tradition of visiting countryside inns.

And Ms Keough, 43, of Pickup Bank, Darwen, said she could not work out how her brother, an experienced cyclist, could have fallen from his bike.

She said: “It’s just not like Dave. He’s strong and fit and very aware. We know some street lights were out, and his back tyre is deflated, but we just don’t know what happened.

“At the moment it’s very difficult for the family to consider what happened. We need to find out, but at the same time part of you doesn’t want to know.

“Everyone’s devastated. You never expect something like this. He’s got a very close family, and we are all supporting each other as best we can and trying to take it one step at a time. We are just waiting for more news.”

Ms Keough, who said the taxi driver who found her brother had “saved his life”, echoed police appeals for any witnesses.

She added: “We just want anyone who saw something, even if it seems insignificant, to come forward.”

Anyone with information is asked to call 08451 253545.