A young cyclist is fighting for his life in hospital tonight following a crash in east London which police are treating as attempted murder.

Officers were called to Plashet Road in Forest Gate at 5.20pm today to reports of a fight at the same time a vehicle was in collision with a cyclist.

The cyclist, a man in his late teens or early 20s, was taken to hospital with serious head injuries where he remains in a critical condition.

A police community support officer was also injured when he was forced to jump out of the way of a moving car to avoid being hit.

Literally witnessed a Mercedes car try to run over a community officer @MPSNewham on Plashet Road. Total madness.@NewhamLondon — Khalil Laher (@khalillaher) December 5, 2015

The officer suffered an injured wrist.

Scotland Yard said the incidents are linked and the collision is being treated as attempted murder.

No arrests have been made and inquiries continue.