Cyclist handed fine after being spotted riding bike along M25 twice

'The actions of this man were irresponsible and could have caused a serious incident'

The man was spotted riding the wrong way along the M25 (Surrey Police's Roads Policing Unit)

A cyclist caught riding his bike the wrong way down the M25 in an attempt to reach Heathrow Airport "put his own life at risk," police have said.

The man, who is in his 30s and from Feltham in west London, was handed a £50 on-the-spot fine by Surrey Police's Roads Policing Unit for contravening motorway regulations.

Shortly before 6am on Thursday, the man was seen riding along the hard shoulder of the anti-clockwise carriageway between junctions 11 and 13.

Although officers from Highways England escorted him off the road and advised him on an appropriate route, the man was seen again a short while later on the motorway slip road between junctions 13 and 14.

After his second appearance on the M25, the man was fined. He was then taken to a safe location.

It is illegal to cycle on the motorway in the UK.

"The actions of this man were irresponsible and could have caused a serious incident," said Martin Crosswell, the operations manager at Highways England. The agency published footage of the incident.

PC Tom Richardson of Surrey Police said cycling on the motorway hard shoulder was “clearly reckless and dangerous".

He added: “The man not only put his own life at risk but other road users too.”

“As well as cycling along an extremely busy motorway during the rush hour traffic, the cyclist would have also crossed motorway slip roads so it is extremely fortunate that there was not a more serious outcome to his trip."

PC Richardson said: “A cyclist coming towards you on your morning commute on the M25 would be completely unexpected and could cause alarm – another example as to why motorists should remain alert and vigilant at all times.”

Additional reporting by PA