AT LEAST three cyclists have launched legal action against Borough of Poole (BOP) following accidents on the town’s Twin Sails Bridge, the Daily Echo has learned.

Bournemouth legal firm Ellis Jones has started court proceedings on behalf of the trio, who all believe the council should pay damages following cycle crashes they’ve suffered on the bridge after colliding with the raised kerb.

In an email to the Daily Echo, David McWilliam - head of personal injury at Ellis Jones - said: “I am currently acting for four cyclists injured in exactly the same way on the Twin Sails Bridge when they have hit the raised kerb.

“Court proceedings have been issued on three of them. Borough of Poole are denying liability on all of my claims.”

When contacted a BOP spokesman said: “We are unable to comment at this time, as these are ongoing insurance claims.”

Earlier this month the Echo reported how Hamworthy resident Bryan Archer, aged 66, broke two of his ribs after crashing his electric cycle on the bridge.

Mr Archer, who is not one of the three cyclists taking legal action, said: “There were some traffic cones on the bridge that directed me at an oblique angle back to the cycle lane and the virtually invisible low ‘kerb’ grabbed my front wheel and I was gone. It was two months before I was fit enough to return to see what had knocked me from my bike and take some photos. The traffic cones were still there. As for the council, it was impossible to get a face-to-face with anyone and although I reported it online, apart from receiving an automated acknowledgement, no-one ever came back to me.”

Mr Archer says the white line running across the bridge disguised the low kerb. “By the time I got over the hump of the bridge I was accelerating to get back into the cycle lane as quick as I could. I must have been doing about 15mph...well that was it, over I went.”

Last month another cyclist, Andrew Gay, aged 72, was left needing emergency surgery after crashing at the same spot.

BOP cabinet member of transport, Cllr Drew Mellor, declined to comment when contacted by the Echo.