A CYCLIST who was thrown from his bike in a road rage incident says drivers are becoming more hostile towards those on two wheels.

The Rochford man, aged 50, who has cycled to and from work in Southend for 20 years, claims drivers are becoming more aggressive.

He had turned in to Malting Villas Road, Rochford, when a silver Ford Focus overtaking a line of parked vehicles refused to give way.

The cyclist, who doesn’t want to be named, was forced to stop and driver nudged the rider’s front tyre with his bumper.

He then jumped out of the car and stormed over to the cyclist.

He said: “He was extremely aggressive.

He grabbed the handlebars and was shaking the bike trying to wrestle it off me. He said ‘get out of the road’ as if I had no right to be in the road.

“I tried to get up and get my phone out to take a photograph of his car and get his registration number, but he then reversed at speed back past a car behind him, turned around and raced off.”

He said the experience has left him more wary of cars on the road, but has vowed to continue to cycle. He added: “I was so annoyed. I am not a novice, I know how to cycle.

“Road rage seems to be getting worse.”

The suspect was described as large and thick-set with blond close-cropped hair. He looked between 20 and 25 years old and was wearing a maroon T-shirt.

Anyone with information about the incident can call PC Rawson on 101.