Police have confirmed that a 71-year-old man from Wetheral died in a crash on the A689 north of Carlisle yesterday.

The family of keen cyclist Michael Seminara have said that he had been out riding with friends when the crash happened.

His pedal cycle was in collision with a HGV at the roundabout for Cargo and Stainton. It happened shortly after 10am.

The A689 bypass was closed for five hours while a collision investigation was carried out.

Mr Seminara had worked at the city's Metal Box factory for 30 years and had trained many apprentices. He went on to work abroad before returning to north Cumbria to retire.

His family have issued the following tribute: "Mike was a keen cyclist and had recently completed the Camino de Santiago trail in Spain as well as the UK coast to coast route.

"Mike had been out riding with friends on a regular outing.

"After working in Carlisle’s Metal Box for 30 years and training many of the company’s apprentices, Mike then worked in Jordan and Malaysia before returning to Wetheral to retire."

His family added: "Mike leaves a wife, three children and seven grandchildren, a brother and four sisters."

Anybody who witnessed the collision is asked to contact PC 2367 Baker of the Cumbria Police Mobile Support Group on 101.