Driver's Twitter Boast About 'Hitting Cyclist'

Police are investigating after a driver apparently boasted on Twitter that she had knocked over a cyclist.

The tweet was made by a young woman and ended with the comment "#bloody cyclists".

It said: "Definitely knocked a cyclist off earlier - I have right of way he doesn't even pay road tax."

Norfolk police were alerted to the collision via the social network and used Twitter to ask the woman to contact them.

"We have had tweets ref an RTC with a bike," the force said. "We suggest you report it at a police station ASAP if not done already and then dm us."

The original tweet prompted incredulity on the website as other users mocked the person who posted it for apparently admitting a crime.

It is no longer visible on Twitter and the user's profile has also been deleted, but the cyclist who is being linked to the crash has spoken out.

Toby Hockley, 29, a member of the Iceni Velo cycling club from Norwich, had been taking part in the 100-mile Boudicca Sportive ride on Sunday.

He said he was struck by a car and thrown into a hedge when a car "came tearing around the blind corner" close to the end of the route.

"She came on to my side of the road. I took the wing mirror off and I went flying off my bike into a hedge," he told BBC Norfolk.

"She hit me hard, really hard. I am lucky to be alive but I managed to get out of the hedge and stand up.

"The car was nowhere to be seen. She hit me and she was gone. All I know is that it was a blonde girl driving."

Mr Hockley said he had initially planned to keep the collision quiet to avoid worrying his girlfriend but contacted police after being told about the tweet.

The cyclist said he had a bruised shin and sore elbow but had avoided major injury.

A spokesman for Norfolk police said: "Further to recent social media postings on a road traffic collision involving a cyclist on Sunday 19 May in the Norwich area, Norfolk Constabulary can confirm that we have had initial contact with both parties involved and enquiries continue."

Road tax does not actually exist in the UK and roads are funded from general taxation.

It is commonly confused with Vehicle Excise Duty, which is a car tax paid on vehicles as a levy on emissions.