A CYCLIST who died after he struck a bridge and was thrown into a stream below has been named as George Ballard, 41, from Ilkley, West Yorkshire.

The accident happened on the B6265 Dibble’s Bridge, between Grassington and Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire.

Mr Ballard was heading towards  Grassington, from the direction of Pateley Bridge, at about 8.30am when he collided with the bridge.

It is believed he may have plunged 50ft to his death.

Officers are continuing to appeal for anyone who witnessed the collision to contact them.

Anyone with information is asked to call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Traffic Constable Martin Mulcaster, or email Martin.Mulcaster@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk or MCIT@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.

Quote reference number 12150133243 when passing on information regarding this incident.

  • Skipton cyclist James Nelson died in an accident at Dibble’s Bridge in August last year. His body was found next to the stream under the bridge.

It was also the scene of one of Britain’s worst coach disasters when 33 passengers on a bus from Thornaby, near Stockton, left the road and plunged into a garden after its brakes failed on the steep descent from Greenhow in 1975.