A 55-YEAR-old man has denied causing the death of a cyclist in Worcester.

Mark Treasure pleaded not guilty to causing the death of 46-year-old Anthony Ryder, from Droitwich, through careless driving, at Worcester Magistrates Court yesterday.

He is accused of driving without care or attention on the A449, in Claines, Worcester, on December 22, 2017.

The charge states that Treasure, of Green Lane, in Bevere, Worcester, was driving a Fiat Doblo at the time of the incident.

The defendant was granted unconditional bail yesterday and will next appear at Worcester Crown Court on January 2.

Speaking after Mr Ryder's death last year, his wife, Dionne, praised him as an incredibly clever and creative man, who was also a keen cyclist.

She said: "He was massively into new technology. He would always compare whatever new gadgets he had with our son.

"He was very into DIY and was very creative. If he ever saw something he would say that he could make it himself and that he could do it for cheaper.

"The things he made would always last. He’d always do a better job than the real thing.

“He was very close to his children. He loved them very much and he looked after us all very well.

“I’m not sure where the obsession [for cycling] came from, I think he just wanted to get fit and it just escalated from there.

“He loved cycling and was incredibly keen. He was always on his bike. He was always out cycling with friends and colleagues.”

Relatives of Mr Ryder and the accused sat in the public gallery yesterday.

Paul Stanley was defending Treasure and Shafquat Reaz was prosecuting.

A fundraising page was set up after Mr Ryder's death, which has so far received £2,405 in donations for the road safety charity Brake.

To donate go on https://anthony-ryder.muchloved.com/