A CYCLIST is alleged to have hit a car driver before stealing the keys to the vehicle during a road rage incident in Christchurch.

The incident involved the driver of a green Fiat Punto which had stopped in a queue of traffic along Bridge Street as it headed towards the town centre at around 12pm on Sunday, December 13.

It is reported that the bike rider was shouting and behaving aggressively towards the car driver, a man in his 60s, before leaning through the car window and taking the keys from the ignition of the car before cycling off. The car driver sustained a small cut under his eye, which is believed to have happened when the cyclist allegedly hit him.

PC Peter Simpson of East Dorset police said: “I am able to release a photo of the suspect and ask anyone who recognises him from his clothing or bike to contact me.

“I would urge anyone who witnessed the incident, or who saw the cyclists in the area, to please call me.”

The suspect is described as a white man in his 30s and of slim build, who was wearing black fitted cycling gear with a wide blue horizontal band across his lower back and cycling glasses.

He was travelling alongside another male cyclist who was wearing black cycling gear with yellow markings on it, who was not involved in the incident.

Witnesses and anyone with information should call Dorset Police on 101, quoting incident number 13:179 or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.