Police in witness appeal after Northumbrian cycling fatality

Northumbria Police are appealing for witnesses to a crash in which a 43-year-old female cyclist was killed after being struck by a van.

Elizabeth Brown, from Jesmond in Newcastle, died in hospital following the incident on the A189 Spine Road, near Cramlington, at 7.15am on Wednesday morning.

Police are appealing for witnesses who may have seen the incident which happened on the northbound lane between the Shankhouse turnoff and the Three Horse Shoes roundabout.

They are particularly keen to speak to the occupants of a silver or grey van which may have been at the scene at the time of the collision. Officers want to stress that those people are potential witnesses.

Sgt Steve Minnikin from the force's Motor Patrols said: "We need any information the public can provide about this incident as our investigations continue."

Northumbria Police said a 22-year-old man has been arrested and bailed on suspicion of causing death by careless driving.