Essex cyclist dies following collision in Dorset

Dorset Police is appealing for anyone with information to come forward after a cyclist was killed in a road traffic collision on the A352 at Wareham. The incident occurred near to Worgret Manor at around 6.10pm on Sunday April 3.

The Bournemouth Echo reports that two air ambulances attended the scene and the cyclist was flown to hospital. Earlier today, a spokesperson for Dorset Police said: "It is with great sadness to report the 58-year-old male cyclist from Rayleigh in Essex, identified by his family as Richard Ellis, sadly passed away at Southampton General Hospital yesterday evening."

The incident also involved a 26-year-old woman from Portland, who was driving a black Nissan Almera. No arrests have been made. Ellis was participating in the Dorset Coast randonée, a 200km Audax event that's one of the longest-running in the country; the Echo wrongly reported that the event was a race and the organisers were at pains to point out that Ellis wasn't racing, although he was participating in the event.

Police Constable Tim Gooding, of Dorset Police’s traffic unit, said: “I am appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision or the manner of driving or riding prior to the collision to contact Dorset Police.”

If you have any information, phone Dorset Police on 101 quoting incident number 03:316 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.