A FUNDRAISING page has been set-up to buy the cyclist injured in an alleged hit and run a new bike.

Friends and colleagues of popular Jacek Szafranski, the cyclist seriously injured in a crash last week, have launched the online page which has already raised hundreds.

Jacek, from Poland, has lived here for years, and is a top level volleyball player, who currently competes with Solent Volleyball Team.

He suffered a broken leg and wrist and several deep cuts as a result of the crash on Poole Road near Westbourne as he was riding to work at UK Mail in Poole.

Club chairman and men’s coach, Adam Phillips, said: “Jacek is one of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet.

“He is one of our best players and I think we may struggle in the league without him. He is definitely one of the top players in the country.

“We went to see him over the weekend and he is in good spirits. He said he was beginning to feel like himself again.”

The team play in the Super 8s, the top division in the country, and Jacek has been hailed one of their best players.

Adam added: “It’s incredible he wasn’t more seriously injured or worse.

“The bike was smashed to bits. I know he had invested a lot of money in his bike; he used it everyday.

“Jacek is one of the most polite and respectful people I’ve ever met; he wouldn’t say boo to a goose.

“He’s a real character and no-one has a bad word to say about him.”

The team are hoping to raise £2,000 for Jacek’s new bike, with funds already past the halfway mark.

A man has been charged over the alleged hit and run crash.

A 19-year-old Bournemouth man, who had been arrested in relation to the collision, has now been charged with seven offences – causing serious injury by dangerous driving, failing to stop and failing to report a collision, failing to stop for police, fuel bilking and document offences.

He is due to appear at Bournemouth Magistrates' Court today.

It comes after a 21-year-old Bournemouth man was arrested on Saturday and released on police bail without charge.

The force has also referred themselves to the Independent Police Complaints Commission as the car involved in the crash had been involved in a police pursuit hours before the collision.

A marked police car was also in Poole Road at the time of the crash, although the pursuit had ended more than two hours before.

To donate go to justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Jacek-bike