BOSCOMBE residents and business owners yesterday reacted with disgust to the news that a pensioner was assaulted by a cyclist on Saturday morning.

As reported in the Daily Echo, the 77-year-old Bournemouth man suffered a broken hip when he was shoved to the ground after asking a group of cyclists not to ride on the pavement at the junction of Christchurch Road and Parkwood Road.

As the Echo went to press last night police were still hunting his assailant, described as white, wearing a grey hooded top with the hood up, riding a dark coloured bicycle.

Yesterday, hairdresser Klaus Kluver, who works in Jay’s over the road, said he was not surprised to hear about the incident.

“You wouldn’t believe how many people I have to tell off for riding on the pavement along here,” he said.

“I always warn the customers who have children not to let them out of the shop.

“It is normally younger men, aged between 16 and 30, and they go past so fast.

“I tell them there will be payback when they are old enough to have children of their own and they are afraid to walk along the pavement with them.”

Robert Massey, manager of Addictive Ink, said: “This is not right, but I have never seen anything like it round here before.”

While 41-year-old Bashar Kadah, of Furniture Direct in Pokesdown, said: “It is really shocking, and very sad to see this happening around here.

“If people want to be on the pavement they should get off their bikes and walk.”

The elderly victim required surgery on his hip and is being treated at Poole Hospital.

Parkwood Road resident Brian Leeming, 73, said it was normally a peaceful area.

“I am surprised to hear about it, normally there are no problems here, apart from when the football is on when it gets a bit rowdy,” he said.

“But youngsters are getting a lot more mouthy these days.

“This is disgraceful.”

Witnesses and anyone with information should call Dorset Police in confidence on 101, quoting incident number 19:119.

Alternatively, call the Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.