A CYCLIST from Rayleigh has died in hospital after he was involved in a road crash in Dorset.

Richard Ellis, 58, was airlifted to hospital with life-threatening injuries after a collision in Wareham on Sunday at about 6.10pm.

But Dorset Police confirmed Mr Ellis had died at Southampton General Hospital on Tuesday evening.

The cyclist was involved in a collision with a black Nissan Almera, being driven by a woman, 26, on Worgret Hill, on the A352.

In a statement, a Dorset Police spokesman said: "It is with great sadness to report the 58-year-old male cyclist from Rayleigh in Essex, identified by his family as Richard Ellis, sadly passed away at Southampton General Hospital."

Two air ambulances rushed to the scene of the crash to treat the cyclist.

The annual Dorset Coast cycle event, a 207km race starting from Wareham, had taken place earlier the same day, but organisers have confirmed Mr Ellis was not among the named competitors.

PC Tim Gooding, of Dorset Police’s traffic unit, said: “I am appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision or the manner of driving or riding prior to the collision to contact Dorset Police.”

No arrests have been made in relation to the collision.