Police in Cambridgeshire have launched an appeal after a motorist punched a cyclist, leading to him falling into the path of oncoming traffic and being hit by a car.

The incident took place last Friday 20 March at around 3.50pm on the A1123 close to the village of Needingworth, which lies to the east of St Ives, say Cambridgeshire Constabulary.

As the cyclist, a male aged in his 50s, approached a roundabout and signalled to move into the right-hand lane, a man driving a grey or beige Audi A6 drove up at speed and cut across him.

Police say the pair exchanged words and both turned right at the roundabout, with the driver getting out of his car and punching the cyclist as he passed, with the rider sustaining minor injuries after he was hit by an oncoming car.

PC Adam Whelan said: "This was a nasty incident of road rage, thankfully no one was seriously injured although this could have been a different matter.

"I would appeal to anyone who saw this happen, or who saw either the Audi or cyclist in the moments leading up to the incident to contact police."

The suspect, who drove away from the scene, is described as “a white male in his 40s, between 5'11" and six foot, with short grey hair, wearing a maroon zip-up sweatshirt and blue jeans.”

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police on 101 or the charity, Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.