A FOUR-YEAR-OLD girl is recovering in hospital after being knocked over by a cyclist riding along the pavement.

The Bournemouth girl suffered a double fracture to her leg when she was hit by the mountain bike in Southbourne Grove as it got dark on Saturday.

It was reported to Dorset Police that the cyclist, described as white and in his late teens to early 20s, was riding at speed and without lights along the pavement.

The incident at around 4.50pm outside T&D Fruits comes just a month after the force launched a crackdown on cycling without lights. In a bid to boost safety in the town, officers can stop riders without lights and issue a £30 fine.

The girl, who was with her parents at the time, is being treated at Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

Sergeant Tony Burden is appealing for any witnesses to the collision to come forward.

The cyclist is said to be slim, with fair hair. He was wearing a dark jacket and riding a dark coloured mountain bike.

Sgt Burden said: “We believe the cyclist initially stopped but then rode off.

“We are keen to speak to him and would ask him to attend his local police station or call the Traffic Unit on the non-emergency number 101.”

Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers chairman Eamonn Deane said: “I would condemn cycling on the pavement and without lights. It is anti-social and breaking the law to ride on the pavement.

“It’s terrible.”

Cycling with lights and on the road is “common sense”, he said.