A CYCLIST had a lucky escape after barbed wire was strung across a woodland trail.

Simon Stone, 42, from Hollingbury, Brighton, was mountain biking with friends in The Great Wood, Stanmer Park, on Monday evening (September 18).

He was riding downhill at speed when his foot got caught in barbed wire that had been laid across the cycling trail.

It is thought the wire had been placed across the trail in an attempt to injure cyclists.

Mr Stone said the trap had the potential to seriously injure cyclists riding through the woods, which was used in the popular annual Brighton Big Dog bicycle race just weeks before.

He said: “Fortunately it just hit my right foot but it was strung all across the trail. I had missed the trail slightly because it was dark and all the leaves meant I couldn’t quite see the outline. But if I had been heading straight down the middle it would have been really bad. I was travelling at 20 to 25 miles per hour and would easily have lost control.”

He dismissed the idea it could have been discarded irresponsibly, and suggests the barbed wire had been put down specifically with the purpose of harming night-time riders.

He added: “I know it was not there during the day, as someone I know had been walking in that same part of the woods earlier in the afternoon and said the trail had been clear.

“Someone’s obviously dragged it a long way.”

Mr Stone, who also takes his daughters, aged eight and four, for rides along the trail, said he fears others may not be as lucky as himself in the future.

He said: “I hate to think what would have happened if I’d had either of my daughters cycling ahead of me. Now I have to warn my children about it, which is a real shame as at their age they should just be able to enjoy it.”

Two years ago police issued a warning after half a dozen trip wires were discovered strung across paths in Coldean Woods, Brighton.

The same year, a cyclist broke his collarbone after he was dragged from his bike by a trip wire strung between two trees near East Brighton Golf Club.

Brighton and Hove cycling campaign group Bricycles has called for the police to investigate.

Becky Reynolds, campaigns officer, said: “I think this is absolutely appalling.

“There really has to be more investigation into what’s going on and more time spent to find out who is responsible.

“Someone has already been injured badly; it’s very dangerous and I hope the people causing it are caught. It’s a shame there are such malicious people in the city.”