A CYCLIST who stopped to exchange details with a driver after a collision was killed after he was struck by another car.

Stan Coates, 55, of Sunderland, died in hospital after being hit in Burdon Lane in the city at 4.45pm on Friday.

Northumbria Police said two men in a Transit van claiming to know and live near Mr Coates had pulled up and taken the bicycle after the first collision.

But the bike is now missing and police are appealing for witnesses.

The police force said the men, in a grey van, "looked as if they had just finished work".

Mr Coates was flown in nine minutes to James Cook Hospital, in Middlesbrough, by the Great North Air Ambulance.

The service said it had been unable to land at a hospital in Newcastle because of snow.

Officers questioned the driver of the car which struck Mr Coates, of West Herrington, but no arrests were made.

The 24-year-old driver of the car involved in the first incident suffered minor injuries.

Both cars involved were Vauxhall Corsas.