A CYCLIST who has had to sign off work after being thrown from his bike in York has appealed for witnesses to the accident to come forward.

Gavin Wormald, 31, of St Oswald’s Close, Wilberfoss, was cycling to work along Heslington Lane in York when he claims he was hit by a dark grey hatchback at the mini roundabout junction with Broadway.

The incident happened at about 8.40am on Wednesday, May 4, and though not seriously injured, Mr Wormald has been left with severe whiplash preventing him from doing his job as a bus driver for Transdev.

Mr Wormald is now appealing to anyone who may have seen the incident to come forward and speak to the police.

He said: “I was approaching the roundabout when a car shot out in front of me forcing me to brake hard and another car behind it followed across the roundabout and my bike impacted with the rear tyre of the car. I went over the handlebars and into the road.

“I slammed my head on the road and it left a huge gash in my helmet.

“People in other cars stopped to help me and I was very lucky, but if that had been a child or an older person they might not have been so fortunate.”

On the day of the crash Mr Wormald was cycling to his workplace in Hospital Field’s Road, Fulford, from Dunnington having dropped his car in at the garage for a service.

He said since the accident he has had one day back at work, but the whiplash caused by the accident means that he couldn’t do his job and has since had to be signed off sick.

He said: “I was in hospital for five hours having X-rays after the accident and even now, over a week after the accident, I am in a lot of pain.”

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police confirmed the incident had been reported and said inquiries into the incident were ongoing.

Any witnesses should phone 0845 6060247.