A CYCLIST has died after he was knocked down by a car.

Emergency services were alerted to the crash which involved a 66-year-old man and a black BMW 525 D Sport in Victoria Drive, Eastbourne on Tuesday afternoon (December 29).

The cyclist, a local man, sadly died at the scene.

The driver of the BMW, a 47-year-old man from Eastbourne, was uninjured.

He was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving. He was later bailed until March 23.

The road was closed while investigative work took place and was reopened shortly before 7.30pm.

Sergeant Peter Verney from the Surrey and Sussex road policing unit said: "We are very keen to hear from anyone who may have witnessed this collision and in particular anyone who may have seen the cyclist in the area in the time leading up to it.

"He was quite distinctive, being an older gentlemen, wearing a cloth cap and with a blue Cobalt mountain bike with a basket on the front."

Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact Sussex Police via email collision.appeal@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101 quoting Operation Aveley.