A MOTHER was left shaken after her five-year-old son was hit by a cyclist along Bournemouth promenade.

Tyler Richley, from Winton, has been left with cuts and scrapes all over his face and body after the incident at the weekend.

Mum Louise, said the cyclist who hit Tyler was going “quite fast” and narrowly missed hitting her daughter, Brooke, too.

Cycling is currently banned on the promenade between 10am and 6pm.

“We were sat on the beach and the kids went onto the promenade. I thought I better get them off as it was getting busy,” Louise explained.

“I could see a cyclist coming, but he didn’t acknowledge Tyler and was going quite fast. Luckily he missed my daughter, Brooke, but he hit Tyler in the face and knocked him down to the ground. He carried on and then stopped. He didn’t brake immediately or even swerve.

“Tyler was in such a state. I was on the beach watching them and ran towards him as soon as it happened.

“The cyclist came over but I was so shaken up and shocked that I just said to him, ‘Don’t bother, I’ll sort [Tyler] out’. We didn’t get an apology from the cyclist, he just said he was at the speed limit of 10mph.

“Luckily there were so many women down on the beach that helped me to look after him as I was in such a shock with what happened.”

She added: “Tyler’s whole body – his knees, chest, back of the shoulders – is all scratched. He’s started to cry now in the night with the pain and is on antibiotics because he’s got an infection in his foot.”

Louise said she had reported the incident to Bournemouth council.

In May, a 72-year-old woman was knocked over from behind by a cyclist along the promenade at Alum Chine.

Joanna Scott said the cyclist headed towards her and her husband, Peter, “like he was on a racetrack”, and she suffered a twisted foot and bruising.

Cllr Philip Stanley-Watts has called for more restrictions against cycling on the promenade and said he would be raising the issue at the next economy and tourism overview and scrutiny panel meeting this month.

Chris Saunders, Head of Operations at Bournemouth Council, said: “Mrs Richley notified us over the weekend of an incident that took place at 6.10pm on Friday evening. We were very concerned about this incident and contacted Mrs Richley on Monday to request further information regarding the location so that we can check any CCTV footage and refer to the Police if necessary. We are now waiting on this information so that we can investigate further.

“The cycling ban extends from 1st July – 31st August 10am – 6pm and at all other times considerate cycling is encouraged and cyclists are asked to keep below 10mph. The Seafront Rangers undertake targeted enforcement activity and the Council will prosecute persistent offenders.”

Chris Saunders, head of operations at Bournemouth Council, said: “Mrs Richley notified us over the weekend of an incident that took place at 6.10pm on Friday evening.

"We were very concerned about this incident and contacted Mrs Richley on Monday to request further information regarding the location so that we can check any CCTV footage and refer to the Police if necessary.

"We are now waiting on this information so that we can investigate further.

“The cycling ban extends from 1st July – 31st August 10am – 6pm and at all other times considerate cycling is encouraged and cyclists are asked to keep below 10mph.

"The Seafront Rangers undertake targeted enforcement activity and the Council will prosecute persistent offenders.”