A cyclist from Fareham believes he was shot with a ball bearing gun during a training ride on Thursday night. Gary Chambers said he then met three other cyclists who had had a similar experience having encountered the same van.

The News reports that Chambers was riding between Compton and Lordington on the B2146 near Chichester at around 8pm when a van skirted past him.

“I was cycling along keeping myself to myself when a van came speeding past me and I felt an almighty pain in my right side,” he said.

“As soon as I looked up it had sped off, but I had to stop riding for a minute because I was in pain. The mark on my hip looked like it was caused by a pellet and it started to bruise immediately.”

Chambers said he had been riding at about 25mph and the driver had passed within a foot of his bike before accelerating.

“I was going fast myself but the van just shot past at speed – it must have been going about 50mph.

“I met a group of three cyclists about a mile down the road and they all said exactly the same thing happened to them. I gave them my contact details and they called the police.”

He added: “My immediate reaction to the pain was anger, but I’m keen to see this person brought forward and dealt with by the police. If this doesn’t stop someone is going to get seriously hurt.”

Chambers is a member of Fareham Wheelers Cycling Club who last year suffered several attacks from someone travelling in a white van.

Cyclists described being punched and having coins thrown at them and there are suspicions the same person may be responsible.