An elderly man died after being struck by a motorbike in a hit-and-run accident on a city cycle path.

The pedestrian, who has not yet been named, had been using the isolated Sustrans cycle track and footpath which runs between Osbaldwick and Tang Hall. The accident happened about 600 metres from its junction with Metcalfe Lane, Osbaldwick.

He was certified dead at York District Hospital following the accident at 2.50pm yesterday.

His death follows warnings that motorcyclists on York cycle paths were putting lives at risk.

Gordon Campbell-Thomas, project co-ordinator at the St Nicholas Fields nature reserve which is linked to the cycle path, said: "We have great sympathy for the family of this person and we believe that the police have got to work very hard to stop this.

"We have been very concerned that this has been an ongoing problem on paths in this area and we always worried that something like this was going to happen. It is a real blow to hear that it has."

He said the Friends of St Nicholas Fields were given a talk by police only last week about motorcyclists using paths.

The Friends have worked to put up signs making it clear motorcycling is forbidden. They carry cameras to picture offenders, which are passed onto police.

"This is the sort of thing we have been worried about and that we have been trying to avoid," said Mr Campbell-Thomas.

Sergeant Nigel Atkinson of York traffic police said: "This was not a motorcycle path, it was a cycle path, so this motorcyclist should not have been on it.

"At the moment it would be speculation to say what has happened and we need to speak to any witnesses urgently."

The motorcyclist is described as about 5ft 8in and slim with short dark hair.

He was wearing yellow and black clothing and may have been suffering from facial injuries.

Anybody who saw him or the pedestrian is asked to contact York police on 01904 631321.

An 18-year-old man arrested after the accident was today being questioned by officers in York.

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