A CYCLIST has called for motorists to pay more attention after he was hurled off his bike in a horror crash.

Chris Courage’s bike was snapped in two as he travelled along Christchurch Road from West Parley towards Longham.

The 31-year-old keen cyclist was making his way to work on the Ferndown Industrial Estate when the incident happened at 7.30am on Thursday.

“I was cycling up the hill close to Dudsbury Golf Course when a van overtook me in a peculiar way.

“The car following was right behind him and that driver was far too close to see me in time. I was shot straight into the air.

“Luckily I landed on the grass verge, avoiding the oncoming traffic and lamppost.”

Chris was taken to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital with an ankle injury and cuts and bruises.

He added: “It was a horrific crash. I don’t remember much apart from the noise of the car hitting me.

“How on earth I didn’t sustain more serious injuries I don’t know. They said I was very, very lucky.

“There was a 50/50 chance something worse could have happened.”

Chris, a precision engineer from Westbourne, said he regularly cycles the nine-mile route to work and is shocked by the level of bad driving.

“I cycle so much and see these kinds of things all the time. I have close calls and near misses every day of the week. It is really starting to annoy me.

“Something should be done about it. I am fed up with reading in the Echo that someone has been killed or seriously injured on their bikes.

“There are far more people cycling now and motorists need to take care and be aware.”

Dorset Police confirmed they were called to an accident on Christchurch Road, West Parley, at 7.40am on July 11.

No one has been arrested.