Two motorcyclists were injured in separate crashes in Weymouth and Portland an hour apart after temperatures plummeted.

While the exact circumstances are being investigated, the collisions yesterday morning came after a very cold night in Dorset where temperatures in some parts of the county dropped to as low as -6C degrees.

Two cars were reported to have flipped over in another crash on the Dorset-Wiltshire border.

Police generally urge people to take extra precautions when driving during the winter.

Temperatures were expected to drop again last night, particularly away from the coast, and Met Office forecaster Mark Wilson said: “We would warn people to be aware really and just be considerate of the fact that there could be some icy patches which are on untreated surfaces like pavements, cycling paths and minor roads.”

Motorists heading to and from Portland faced delays yesterday following a collision between a van and a motorcycle on Portland Beach Road near Osprey Quay.

A-19-year-old man riding the bike suffered ankle and wrist injuries in the crash. A section of Portland Beach Road near Ospray Quay was closed for a number of hours while emergency services dealt with the incident.

Police were called to the collision at just before 7.30am. It is understood the road was icy at the time of the collision. The road was closed between the sailing academy roundabout and Coode Way, the turning for the coastguard helicopter station.

A diversion was put in place around the sailing academy so traffic was able to flow on and off the island.

A spokesman for South West Ambulance said: “There was one casualty, a 19-year-old male on the bike. He had a wrist injury and an ankle injury and we took him to Dorset County Hospital for treatment.”

It was initially thought a helicopter would be needed for an airlift but this was not the case. The rider was seen being stabilised on a stretcher before being put in an ambulance.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said originally there were thought to be “potentially serious” injuries. The collision involved a black Keeway motorcycle registered to a man from Weymouth and a silver Peugeot van registered to a company from Humberside.

A Portland resident who was out walking her dog along Chesil Beach at the time said she hoped the injured man makes a full and quick recovery. She said: “When the temperatures are like this the roads can become very dangerous very quickly.

“I hope the person involved is okay and isn’t in hospital for a long period.” The road reopened shortly before 10am.

In other road incidents yesterday, a motorcyclist was taken to Dorset County Hospital following a collision on Dorchester Road near St Julien Crescent at Broadwey.

Police were called to the incident at 8.23am. The collision involved a silver Ford Fiesta registered to a woman from Weymouth and a motorcycle scooter registered to a man from Weymouth.

The man was taken to hospital for treatment to an injured wrist. The driver of the Ford Fiesta was uninjured.

About half an hour later police were made aware of a damage-only incident involving two cars in Jesty’s Avenue at Broadwey.

Wiltshire Police said there were no injuries reported following a two vehicle crash on the A350 north of Shaftesbury about 7.50am yesterday.

It was reported the vehicles had flipped over.

Meanwhile, three people were taken to hospital following a crash on the A350 Blandford Road at Upton, near Poole, yesterday.

Paramedics were called to the scene at 4pm where there was a two-vehicle crash.

A grey Ford Galaxy, registered to a woman from Poole, and a grey Audi A1, registered to a Poole man, were involved in the crash near Upton roundabout. 

Three patients were rushed to hospital by road ambulances.