MORE investment is planned in safer cycle routes around Dorset as figures reveal hundreds of riders have been injured on the county's roads.

Cyclists and motorists have been urged to see that the majority of the other are law abiding and to be more aware of each other.

A Freedom of Information Request by the Echo has revealed that in the past five years more than 560 cyclists were killed or injured after being involved in incidents on Dorset's road network.

The information supplied by Dorset County Council shows that last year there were 129 injuries and one fatality, compared to 101 injuries and a single fatality in 2011.

Of those seriously injured, 37 were classed as 'serious' last year - more than double the figure in 2011.

Full figures for 2016 are unavailable, with the council citing IT issues at Dorset Police.

Over the past five years the council has invested a total of £5.5million in cycling networks and education of cyclists.

Wayne Sayers, sustainable transport manager for the authority, said in terms of the infrastructure the council is just waiting for the next tranche of funding from central government before it embarks on the next stage of improvements to the network.

He added that the other major focus was the education side, with the council running Bikeability sessions for youngsters, with more than 1,100 children having taken part, and subsidised adult cycling training while Sustrans provides Bike It sessions in around 30 schools around the county.

He said: "It's about building up good practice in children especially."

Mr Sayers acknowledged that there was also the wider issue of educating both cyclists and motorists already using the roads and making them more aware of each other.

He said: "It's about trying to get them both to realise that there is a minority on both sides that act badly but on the whole most people are law abiding and do what they are supposed to do."

Another area Mr Sayers said there had been improvements was in vehicle technology, with some heavy good vehicles now fitted with sensors to alert them to the presence of cyclists.