A CYCLIST who died in a crash with a car at Bolton Abbey has been named as Craig Armitage.

The 44-year-old married father-of-three was taking part in the Otley Reliability Ride to Kettlewell on Sunday. He was a sociable family man, passionate about cycling and helping others.

The crash involved a silver Hyundai i30 car travelling towards Barden on the B6160, between Bolton Abbey and Barden Tower, about 11.30am. Mr Armitage was travelling in the opposite direction, in Bolton Abbey estate.

Friend and business partner Jonathan Farnaby, of Otley-based cycle firm In Gear Coaching, said he was a “good friend, an excellent father and a great husband.”

“He was a very safe and careful cyclist. We are in total shock.” Mr Armitage leaves a wife, Jill, and children, aged six, eight and nine. Witnesses, contact 101.