Three men have appeared at Teesside Crown Court in connection with the death of a cyclist who was killed in front of his own son.

Jan Torka, Martin Gordon Conroy and Thomas Mark Sells are each charged with causing the death by dangerous driving of 58-year-old David Sayers, from Norton, Stockton.

Mr Sayers, an electrical engineer with chemical company Huntsman, was hit by a number of vehicles as he cycled along the A689 at Greatham, near Hartlepool, on January 29 this year with his son John.

The Crown allege he was struck first by van driver Mr Torka and fell into the road, before being run over by vehicles driven separately by Mr Conroy and Mr Sells.

Mr Torka, 57, of Newlands Road, Skelton, East Cleveland, Mr Conroy, 31, of Liddle Close, Peterlee, County Durham, and Mr Sells, 42, of Lingfield Ash, Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, who is also charged with having defective tyres, did not enter pleas during the ten minute hearing.

All three were granted unconditional bail and the case was adjourned by Judge Tony Briggs until August 30 with the prosecution seeking to obtain forensic reports on two of the vehicles involved.