A RIBBLE Valley vicar is appealing for help in tracking down a motorist who knocked him off his bike.

Rev Andrew Malcolm, 59, was only 100 yards from home in Simonstone when a green car collided with him, knocking him to the ground, before fleeing the scene.

The father-of-two was returning from cycling around the borough with his son James who works at Coventry University when the incident happened on Friday.

Rev Malcolm, has been in charge of St Leonard’s CE Church in Langho for almost three years after serving as a police inspector in Burnley.

He suffered cuts to his arms, face, legs and shoulder as well as ‘road rash’ across his body.

Now Rev Malcolm has said that he is ‘determined’ to help the police track down the driver of the car and has called on witnesses to come forward.

His bike, a blue Felt road bike, worth around £800, is currently being repaired in Clitheroe.

Rev Andrew Malcolm said: “I’m angry and disappointed that someone has done this.

“People should be more patient with other road users who are not in a car.

“If this car had just waited a little longer it would have been fine.

“If I wasn’t wearing my helmet my injuries would have been significantly worse.

“I was left in a pretty bad way and ended up spending four hours in Burnley General Hospital.

“My son, who I had been on a ride around the Ribble Valley with, had stopped to pick up something for lunch and if he hadn’t then he could have been taken out as well.

“It just came completely out of the blue and I hope that the police catch up with them.”

Rev Malcolm is planning to take his battered cycle helmet into St Leonard’s CE Primary School to show them the importance of being safe on a bike.

A police spokeswoman said: “We received a call at 1.20pm on Friday after a man was knocked off his bike in Simonstone.

“He received cuts to his arms, shoulder, knee, legs and forehead.

If anyone saw the incident happen please call 101.”