A CYCLIST has died after falling 15 metres from Dibbles Bridge, Hebden.

The accident occurred at 8.30am yesterday.

Police say the cyclist – a 41-year-old man – was heading towards Grassington when his bike collided with the bridge, throwing him over the parapet and into the stream below.

They have appealed for witnesses.

As well as the police and Yorkshire Ambulance Service, the incident was attended by 15 members of the Grassington-based Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

A UWFRA spokesman said: “Sadly, the cyclist had sustained fatal injuries and the team was stood down while the police accident investigation took place.

“The team, many of whom are active cyclists, would like to offer their sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.”

The tragedy comes almost exactly a year after another cyclist, 32-year-old James Phillip Nelson, from Skipton, died at the same spot.

Dibbles Bridge was also the scene of one of Britain’s worst coach disasters when 32 passengers died after their coach plunged into a garden and overturned after its brakes failed 40 years ago.

Anyone with information about the latest tragedy is asked to call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Traffic Constable Martin Mulcaster, or email Martin.Mulcaster@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk or MCIT@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.

Please quote reference number 12150133243.