A London nurse who was left with a broken back in a crash with a car has said she will never cycle to work on the capital’s roads again.

Jo Beighton, who works at Guy’s Hospital, was knocked off her bike when she was involved in a collision with a car as she rode to work in Streatham during the morning rush hour.

The 28-year-old said she was in the cycle lane approaching traffic lights when a red Nissan Micra turned left and collided with her.

She was knocked to the ground and the driver of the car and another passing motorist in a van stopped at the scene of the crash.

Ms Beighton said the van driver helped her to her feet and that after exchanging details with the female motorist who collided with her, she walked the short distance to her home not realising she was seriously injured.

She told the Standard: “The van driver kindly helped me up but then left because I seemed OK. I didn’t realise at the time that I was injured. I was in complete shock.

“I walked home and then went to A&E when I realised I was in an extreme amount of pain.

“I had some X-rays on my back and it confirmed that I had a fracture. I have been off work for three weeks recovering and don’t yet know when I’ll be able to return.

“I won’t be cycling to work again. It has scared me. It has completely changed my thoughts on cycling. I have been cycling to work in London for six years and I had always enjoyed it.”

Ms Beighton and the driver of the car both reported the collision to the police separately but so far, officers have been unable to trace any witnesses.

The cyclist is appealing for the driver of the van or anyone else who saw the collision, which occurred in Ambleside Avenue at the junction with Mitcham Lane just after 8.30am on April 6 to come forward.

Ms Beighton added: “I was approaching the junction with the traffic lights on green. I was in the cycle lane when the car turned left and drove into me.

“I tried to swerve to the left out of the way but I collided with the right hand side of the car, fell and landed on my back.

“There were lots of other cars there and someone must have seen what happened.”

A Met Police spokesman said: “We were called to reports of a road traffic collision on Mitcham Lane at 8.42 on April 6.

“A collision accident report book has been compiled and has been sent for consideration.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 101.