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

The 44-year-old married father-of-three was taking part in the Otley Reliability Ride to Kettlewell when the collision occurred yesterday.

Friends have described him as a very sociable family man who was 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 at about 11.30am.

Mr Armitage was travelling in the opposite direction, on the bends in the Bolton Abbey estate between the fountain and the arcay, with two other cyclists. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Friend and business partner Jonathan Farnaby, who had started up Otley-based cycle coaching firm In Gear Coaching with him, described him as a "good friend, an excellent father and a great husband."

He added: "He was a very safe and careful cyclist. We are in total shock."

Mr Armitage was an amateur race cyclist with more than 30 years' experience.

He leaves a wife, Jill, and three children aged six, eight and nine.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the crash or who saw the vehicles shortly beforehand should contact Traffic Constable Ken Riley or Skipton Roads Policing Group on 101.