TT racer Steve Mercer is now described as ’stable’ in hospital in Liverpool.

It follows an incident in TT qualifying on Wednesday evening when the Jackson Racing rider was involved in a collision with a course car.

He was initially flown by airmed to Noble’s before being transferred to Liverpool for specialist treatment.

Since his accident at Ballacrye, near Ballaugh, race organisers ACU Events have issued a red flag procedure, which means that riders will only be permitted to move in course direction under the direction of travelling marshals if an event is stopped.

Meanwhile, race control have said that sidecar driver Tony Baker, who had an accident at Sky Hill in yesterday’s red flagged Sidecar TT race, has a leg fracture and is described as comfortable.

And sidecar passenger Fiona Baker-Holden is described as being comfortable with soft tissue injuries.