VIDEO: "There’s a ******* cycle lane. I’ll ******* kill you"- explosive row between cyclist and driver

Updated 6.15pm: Driver identified as butcher and up-market cafe chain owner

The male cyclist, whose identity is currently unknown, was riding along Priory Lane, Roehampton, towards Richmond Park, when the Land Rover Discovery 4 attempted to overtake him at the roundabout at Dowdeswell Close.

In this video, the driver of the black 4x4 is seen slowing down to allow the cyclist to catch up before closing the space between them.

WARNING: The video (below) contains extreme language, so we've also created a safe for work sped-up Benny Hill-style version for the easily offended

The cyclist shouts "Hey, come on" to the driver, who then launches into a torrent of abuse, beginning with "There’s a ******* cycle lane" before what appears to be contact between the car and bicycle.

The driver of the Land Rover, a man wearing a tight leather jacket and who has earphones hanging from his jacket, then gets out of his car to continue shouting expletives at the cyclist.

(The middle video contains swearing but is the first part of the row, the left-hand side video is part two - also contains extreme language.

(The third video - visible on a mobile phone by clicking the right arrow - is speeded up with no swearing)

"Get away, get away. You ******* ignorant driver" can be heard shouted by the cyclist, before the driver points to a cycle lane on the opposite carriageway and shouts: "There’s a ******* cycle lane there. **** off, ****."

The explosive torrent of abuse hurled at the cyclist, who states "I am legally allowed here" continues throughout the four-minute long video.

Insults are also thrown about what the cyclist, who is dressed in a fluorescent yellow jacket, helmet and cycling trousers, is wearing before another rider steps in to try to help break up the confrontation.

Car horns also begin to sound as the driver of the Land Rover, who had stopped in the middle of the road to complete the confrontation, continues to shout abuse.

At one point, the motorist gets back into his vehicle before promptly exiting again to continue shouting "There’s a ******* cycle lane here" to other passing cyclists.

Two cyclists can be heard telling the driver they will inform the police of the incident, which is believed to have occurred on Saturday, March 14.

Half way through the video, the driver begins to leave the area before promptly getting out of his vehicle again to confront the cyclist, who he believed had hit his car.

The driver shouts: "Put your bike down you ****. ******* idiot. I’d ******* eat you for breakfast. You simple ****.

"I’ll call the ******* police. Did you thump my car you ****? I’ll ******* kill you, ****.

"I’ll smash your ******* teeth down your throat."

The cyclist asks the car driver why he had not done so already and the driver responds "because there’s a witness otherwise I’d break your ******* neck."

After getting back into his vehicle again, the driver can still be heard shouting abuse to the cyclist before driving off.

In a comment on the video, the cyclist said: "I reported the incident in person to a police station. Armed with my laptop, video and a copy of the file on a USB thumb drive."

The Richmond and Twickenham Times has contacted the cyclist for comment.

Tim Lennon, from the Richmond Cycling Campaign, said: "The video proves that it doesn't matter how many drivers are nice, it takes just one to turn a simple journey into a terrifying ordeal.

"Especially on a road like this, which should probably only be used for cycling and for local access anyway, local councils could do much more to make their boroughs safer and more inviting."

Officers from the Putney Safer Neighbourhood team are investigating.

A Metropolitan Police Service spokesman said: "A 50-year-old man voluntarily attended a south London police station where he was interviewed in connection with the incident.

"The man was not arrested. Enquiries continue."

Are you the cyclist, the driver or the peacemaker? Give us a call on 020 8722 6395.