AN engineer has told a jury how he saw a motorist ram a cyclist three times on a country road near Pershore.

Henry Walker was on a 50-mile Sunday bike ride with civil servant Eric Gorton when the shunts allegedly took place.

Mr Walker claimed Ford Orion driver Neil Gummery first moved alongside Mr Gorton and tried to trap him against a hedge.

Then the car "accelerated and braked hitting him on the back wheel with the centre of the bumper. This was repeated three times."

Mr Walker, giving evidence at Worcester Crown Court, added: "The car just swerved about, trying to get at him rather than go round him. There was no reason other than to knock him off."

The jury heard Mr Gorton fell off and 31-year-old Gummery drove at him as he picked his bike up in the hamlet of Abbotswood.

Mr Walker said: "The bike acted as a shield. It was very fortunate he didn't break his legs."

Gummery, of Vincent Road, off Wyld's Lane, Worcester, denies dangerous driving and assaulting Mr Gorton causing him actual bodily harm.

Rhona Campbell, prosecuting, alleged he was affected by road rage when he saw cyclists riding two abreast as he drove to a soccer match.

The incident happened after the cyclists and a third companion - all members of a Malvern bike club - rode near a railway bridge on March 12 last year.

Mr Walker said the car eventually swerved around Mr Gorton and sped off. He was badly shaken and suffered an ankle injury.

William Rickarby, defending, suggested that Mr Gorton had cycled very slowly in the centre of the road and had been aggressive and obstructive.

He claimed Mr Gorton had brought his bike to a halt three times by standing on the pedals. That had caused any contact with the car.

But Mr Walker retorted: "Utter lies. That's not true at all. He was trying to get away from the car."

The trial continues.