A motorist who stopped to help a cyclist who had been forced off the road was left seriously bruised when the driver of the vehicle involved in that incident deliberately drove into him.

Avon & Somerset Constabulary say that yesterday morning at around 10.20am, a black Volkswagen Golf was being driven “erratically and at speed” on Barrington Hill near Ilminster when the driver “overtook a cyclist in an aggressive manner,” with the rider having to veer to the side of the road.

According to police, when the driver of a Renault Scenic stopped to check that the cyclist was okay, the man at the wheel of the Golf turned his vehicle around, and shouted abuse at the other motorist before revving his engine and driving into him. He then drove off towards Horton.

The 51-year-old male victim was tossed into the air by the impact and suffered serious bruising and was left in shock. Paramedics who treated him at the scene said he was lucky not to have sustained more serious injuries.

Police have begun an investigation and have asked witnesses to contact them, including anyone who saw a Volkswagen Golf being driven erratically in the area yesterday morning. Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting log 430 of 21/06/14.