The reward on offer for the naming of the killer driver who left a cyclist dying in the road a year ago yesterday climbed to £6,000.

The family of Stefan Forge have put up a £5,000 reward for information that will lead to the identification of the hit-and-run driver.

Mr Forge, a microbiologist from Harrogate, was 47-years-old when he was struck by a car and killed on the A658 at North Rigton, near Harrogate on the night of August 22 last year.

He and his friend and fellow cyclist Jonathan Wastling were found lying by the roadside in the early hours of August 23. Mr Wastling suffered severe injuries but survived.

The new reward is on top of £1,000 already offered by family friends of Mr Wastling last year. but despite a massive police investigation the driver responsible has still not been traced.

Yesterday the dead man's younger brother Adrian said the family would find it easier to cope if they knew what exactly had happened on the day Stefan was killed.

"This is not a witch hunt. What we want is to finally lay this matter to rest," he said.

He added: "It may be that it was a pure accident _ I hope it was _ and that it was only at journey's end that some driver realised he may have been responsible. It is still my hope that the driver will come forward."

He said the family appreciated the effort the police had made but knew that their leads were virtually exhausted.

"This is down to the public. There may be someone, somewhere, who has the key information the police need, even if it is something they consider of small importance that they did not bother to report."

Mr Forge said the family knew that finding the driver responsible would not bring Stefan back but they wanted the full story to come out.

He added: "Meanwhile we will remember Stefan the way he was, a warm outgoing man with everything to live for."