A CYCLIST was left injured after a hit-and-run incident near Ringwood.

Bob Richardson, 52, from Southbourne, was taking part in the Bournemouth Arrow Cycling Club’s evening 10-mile time trial on Thursday, July 5, when the incident happened.

The event takes place every Thursday night between April and August and sees cyclists travel from Ringwood to Sopley and back again on the B3347.

Riders set off individually at one-minute intervals and Bob was riding alone near Bisterne Football Club on his way back to Ringwood at around 7.50pm when the incident occurred.

He said: “I’m riding back at a fairly high speed, around 25mph, and I know there’s a car behind me. It’s a long straight road and a car comes up behind me, overtakes me and goes into the oncoming lane leaving me around three metres of room.

"A second car comes and does the same. A third vehicle, a black 4x4 was about three to four inches away then sideswipes me and knocks of flying down the side of the road.”

A fellow rider who was cycling behind Bob stopped to offer assistance and called for help from the race organisers.

Bob, who is chairman of Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers cycling club, suffered injuries to his elbow which required eight stitches at Royal Bournemouth Hospital, as well as his hip.

Bob said: “By the time I’ve worked out what’s happened, the driver is in the distance. There was a rider behind me, but he didn’t get chance to get the car’s details.”

He added: "I think in the grand scheme of things I've been very lucky with my injuries. I'm uncomfortable and I'm back at work but I could have broken my neck."

A spokesperson for Hampshire Police said: “We are investigating a report of a collision between a vehicle and a cyclist on the A3347 near Bisterne football club between 7.50pm and 8pm on 5 July.”

Anyone with information about this incident should call 101 quoting 44180252676.