Cyclist dies in head-on collision

A man has been killed in a head-on collision with a van, while taking part in an annual all-night cycle ride.

Police did not name the 38-year-old cyclist, but said he came from Walthamstow, east London.

He died at the accident scene in North Weald, Essex, on Saturday, a police spokeswoman said.

A 62-year-old man from Waltham Abbey, Essex, arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving was released on bail pending further inquiries.

A 41-year-old man, also from Walthamstow, suffered minor injuries in the crash, a police spokeswoman said.

Route to Dunwich

The two men were among hundreds of cyclists taking part in a 120-mile overnight ride between Hackney, east London and Dunwich on the Suffolk coast.

The spokeswoman said the annual cycle ride was called The Dunwich Dynamo and is organised by a London-based cycling group called Southwark Cyclists.

It was the 14th time the event had been staged. Riders finish at Dunwich beach and then return to London by coach.

Southwark Cyclists co-ordinator Barry Mason, who was taking part in the ride, said the dead man and the injured man were friends.

"It's just a tragic, awful waste of life," said Mr Mason. "We should all be sitting here on the beach feeling really pleased with ourselves. But we're not."