New leads in cyclist inquiry

Mr Little died days after the incident

The occupants of a car and caravan sought in connection with the death of a cyclist may not have been holidaymakers, according to police.

Retired farmer Frank Little, 80, fell off his bike suffering fatal injuries when he was overtaken by the car and caravan as he cycled through Dairsie, Fife, on 18 June.

Fife Constabulary said it was unclear what happened but officers have been anxious to trace the occupants of the car.

Inspector Bruce Thomson said that further enquiries have revealed that the car may have been carrying two adults and a child of "primary school age".

I am inclined to think that they are local to north east Fife

Bruce Thomson
Fife Constabulary

The saloon car had no extended mirrors fitted and CCTV footage showed that the Coachman caravan, which would have been more than 10 years old, did not appear to have a rear number plate.

This has led officers to believe that the occupants of the car were local and not holidaymakers.

Inspector Thomson said: "I have a team of officers dedicated to locating this car and caravan and while I cannot say that it's not someone touring on holiday, I am inclined to think that they are local to north east Fife.

"Our enquiries have for example failed to identify any such combination crossing the Tay Road Bridge after leaving Dairsie.

Police believe they know the caravan's make

"Further, given the circumstances surrounding the incident, I also suspect that the caravan may even have been recently acquired or possibly even collected from a storage area as the driver appears not to have been properly prepared for the journey."

The inspector said it was possible the occupants of the car "may be quite unaware that they were involved in this incident".

Issuing a picture of the make of caravan believed to be involved, Mr Thomson repeated his appeal to anyone who believes they may have been the vehicle combination to contact his team.

Mr Little was involved in the accident as he cycled home from St Andrews.

The widower and father of four suffered serious head injuries in the incident and passed away at Dundee's Ninewells Hospital on Tuesday, 24 June.