A cyclist claims to have been catapulted 15 feet into the air after being hit by a car outside Richmond College.

York Membery, a journalist from Twickenham, said he "did a complete flip" when he was hit by the motorist in Egerton Road at about 9am last Friday.

The 51-year-old, who was left with swelling to his leg, alleges it was a student driving the car and that she did not indicate or look where she was going.

He said: "A car pulled out from the college, it was a student who wasn't looking where she was going or indicating.

"The car went into my push bike and I did a somersault in the air - the security guard at the college saw the whole thing and said I went flying 10 or 15 feet.

"You read about this sort of thing happening in central London but don't expect it to happen so close to home.

"It has made me realise just how vulnerable cyclists are on the road - they get a bad press but often it is a mistake by a motorist that causes the accident."

Mr Membery suffered swelling to his leg and hand and has been limping ever since but confirmed an x-ray showed he had no broken bones.

He has taken his bicycle, which he has owned for several years, to Moores Cycles in Twickenham to be repaired.

He added: "It's the sort of thing you always think is going to happen to someone else, never you."

A police spokesman said they received an allegation that a man had been hit by a car and had required medical attention.

Richmond College has been contacted for a comment.