Former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson says Jeremy Vine was ‘selfish’ for cycling down the middle of the road in the moments before he was verbally abused by a driver.

Vine, a BBC broadcaster, recorded his altercation with the motorist last week after she drove close to his rear wheel on the one-way street, which had cars parked down both sides.

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The Radio 2 presenter took the position to stay out of the ‘door zone’ and to prevent motorists from attempting a close pass, but Clarkson said Vine’s position was “deliberately blocking the cars in his wake”.

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Writing in his column in The Sun, Clarkson said: “He can be seen cycling down the middle of the road, deliberately blocking the cars in his wake, and when one gets too close he stops — still in the middle of the road — so he can record the woman driver’s foul-mouthed tirade.

“The message is clear. He’s been verbally assaulted while on a noble quest to save the polar bear.”

He added: “But hang on a minute, Vine. How did you know that the woman in the car behind wasn’t rushing to see her injured child in hospital? How did you know there wasn’t a pregnant girl on the back seat who was about to give birth.

“Can you imagine how frustrating it would be to be stuck behind a sanctimonious cyclist when you really are in a genuine, tearing hurry?

“Of course, it is not illegal to cycle slowly down the middle of a narrow street. But it is selfish and annoying for everyone else.”

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Of course, Clarkson is paid to give controversial opinions in his newspaper column and Vine took it all in good humour.

“I love Clarkson and I laughed all the way through his brilliant column,” he told the Evening Standard.

“Obviously I didn’t hold the lady up – after her violent reaction I let her pass, and, sure enough, caught up with her at the next lights.

“I live in hope that one day road users can all co-exist without this sort of thing.”