CYCLISTS in York are planning a permanent memorial to Olympic cyclist Peter Longbottom who died in a road accident on the A64 near York.

Mr Longbottom, 38, from Malton, was thrown off his bike near the Grimston Bar turn-off after a collision with a car in Monday evening's rush-hour traffic.

Judith Boswell, whose husband Tony used to coach Mr Longbottom, said: "Members of the Velo Club in York are going to meet as soon as possible, in the next few days, to think about a tribute to him. "Everybody wants to remember him in some way, but it's too early to say what.

"He was a very popular member of the training team and was a father figure to a lot of cyclists. He looked after them all."

Meanwhile traffic police in York say the toll of deaths on North Yorkshire's roads should bring home to motorists the importance of driving carefully.

Since Christmas, six people have died as a result of road accidents in the York, Ryedale and Selby areas, according to North Yorkshire police. Humberside police say three people have died in East Yorkshire.

Traffic Sergeant Nigel Atkinson, of York police, said: "Drivers need to exercise caution at all times - public roads are a dangerous environment."

A spokesman from Ryedale District Council said: "Peter worked with the council for over 12 years during which time he progressed from junior engineering technician to his last post as senior technician engineer. It was also in this period that Peter achieved his major success in his chosen sport of cycling - a success that depended upon many hours of dedicated training come rain or shine.

"It is a tragedy that his life should be cut short in this appalling accident and all his former colleagues at Ryedale join me in extending our heartfelt sympathy to Peter's wife and family."

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