Man dies in cycling accident

A 66-year-old cyclist was been found dead in a ditch near Wairoa yesterday morning.

The local man had been training for an upcoming cycling event, police said.

He was found by a motorist on Awamate Road, around 15 kilometres west of Wairoa, about 3pm yesterday.

Police said the man's bike was found a short time later in a paddock on the opposite side of the road.

Sergeant Matt King said someone may have found the bike and was unaware of the accident and moved the bike off the road for safe keeping.

Wairoa police and the Eastern District Serious Crash unit are investigating.

Anyone who travelled on Awamate Road yesterday and may have information which could assist the investigations should contact Detective Sergeant John McCarthy on 06 8388345.

- NZ Herald staff