A CALLOUS cyclist who sped off after knocking a frail elderly woman to the ground while riding illegally in a pedestrian precinct has been labelled "scum" by witnesses.

The partially-sighted victim, 85, was left suffering from head injuries and shock after the incident in Bournemouth town centre on Thursday.

Bystanders told how two men were cycling at speed through the pedestrian area on Old Christchurch Road when one bike crashed into the woman and left her bleeding on the street.

Witness Steven Knight, 44, from Poole, said: "He ran straight into her with some force and went right over the handlebars. She had tyremarks on her trousers."

His wife Michaela, 36, comforted the elderly victim, believed to be from Westbourne, as they waited for an ambulance to arrive.

"She fell backwards and hit her head on the ground," she said.

"The cyclist stayed with her for a minute, but then his mate called for him to get out of there," she added.

"To hit an old lady like that and then leave her - I can hardly describe what I think of them. They're scum."

Shop staff in nearby Ashes Menswear said they also witnessed the incident, which happened shortly before 1.30pm.

Director Keiran Clarke, 37, said: "A guy on a bike rode straight into her doing about 15 to 20 miles per hour. He knocked her straight over. He came in to ask us to phone an ambulance and as people were milling around, he made off."

He condemned the youth for not staying to help the injured woman.

"It's absolutely disgraceful. If you hurt somebody, you take responsibility and follow it through. Any normal person would have stayed with her, even if they felt awful about it."

An ambulance spokesman said the victim suffered a minor head injury and was taken to Royal Bournemouth Hospital for a check-up, but was not kept in.

The Daily Echo has received numerous letters of complaint from readers concerned about cycling in banned areas and last month police held a clampdown, issuing several £60 on-the-spot fines in the town centre.

Town centre councillor Robert Chapman said: "We're seeing a total abuse of 'no cycling' rules in shopping areas, in particular across the Square.

"There are notices telling people not to cycle and it doesn't delay people many minutes if they dismount while they're going across these areas.

"It's quite worrying that they're totally flouting the regulations, especially when a poor lady gets injured like this."

He added that the police cannot be everywhere at once, so members of the public also have to be vigilant, and appealed for witnesses to give the police a description of the offender.

A Dorset Police spokesman said police are investigating the incident and would like any witnesses to contact them on 01202 222222 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

First published: October 28