A MUM has heaped praise on a bus driver who helped shield her son from traffic and prying eyes after being knocked from his bike.

Chris Oldham, 31, was left with a fractured skull and bleeding and swelling of the brain, following the incident last Thursday in Kinmel Bay where a van failed to stop.

North Wales Police have recovered the white Vauxhall Combo which was involved in the incident, which happened at the junction of St Asaph Avenue and Foryd Road, and a man has been arrested.

Chris was taken to Glan Clwyd Hospital before being transferred to Stoke.

Mum Sylvia Oldham said Chris is in and out of consciousness yet stable.

She said: "He has been transferred to Stoke Hospital due to fractured skull, bleeding and swelling of the brain. If the swelling worsens, an operation is a very real possibility.

"He is being monitored on the high dependency unit."

Sylvia was keen to say a "massive" thank you to all those that helped Chris on the day of the incident, especially the Arriva bus driver who parked his vehicle to protect Chris whilst he received treatment.

She added: "I want to say thank you to the bus driver. If it wasn't for him, it doesn't bear thinking about what could have happened. In our eyes, he is a hero.

"As for the members of the emergency services that were involved, the ambulance crews, the police and hospital staff of Glan Clwyd Hospital - we have nothing but praise for each and everyone of them.

"I would like to also say a massive thank you to all the work colleagues, friends and even people we don't know who have sent their thoughts and prayers to us at this very difficult time. It is keeping us strong."

The incident occurred at about 6.40am on October 18.

Following the crash, the road was closed in both directions. It re-opened a few hours later.

A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We were called on October 18 at approximately 6.45am to reports of a road traffic collision involving a vehicle and a cyclist on the A548 in Kinmel Bay.

"We responded with one rapid response vehicle, two emergency ambulances, where one person was taken to Glan Clwyd Hospital.”

Do you know who the "hero" bus driver was? If so email suzanne.kendrick@newsquest.co.uk

Anyone with information or has footage on their dashcam is asked to contact North Wales Police at https://www.north-wales.police.uk/contact/live-chat-support