A cyclist has died after he was involved in a collision with a car on a rural Shropshire road.

The man, believed to be 18, was given emergency treatment at the scene of the collision, near Shrewsbury, after he suffered multiple injuries in the incident.

He was taken to hospital by ambulance following the collision, which happened along a stretch of the B4386 between Yockleton and Westbury on Boxing Day, but died later.

Police today launched an appeal for witnesses to the incident, which happened at about 6pm and also involved a green Peugeot Partner Combi people carrier, driven by a man.

The driver and a passenger in the car were uninjured in the collision.

Officers today said the cyclist, who has not been formally identified, was not believed to be from Shropshire but it is thought he was staying with people in the area.

Constable Ben Monk, who is investigating the collision, urged anyone who might have seen what happened to contact him at West Mercia Police.

He said: “Anybody who might have witnessed the collision or who might have seen either the car being driven or the bike being ridden in the area immediately beforehand is asked to contact police on 0300 333 3000.”

West Midlands Ambulance Service said an ambulance and an incident support officer were sent to the scene following the collision.

A spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived to find a bike in a hedge and a car which had suffered damage.”

She said the man suffered serious multiple injuries in the crash and crews gave him emergency treatment at the scene before he was taken by ambulance to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

Police said the man was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at hospital.

Both the driver of the car and his female passenger were treated for shock but did not need hospital treatment.

Today Adrian Harvey, from Westbury and Yockleton Parish Council, described the incident as a “terrible thing”.

Mr John Ellery, coroner for Mid and North Shropshire, has been informed and a post mortem examination is due to be carried out.

By Emma Kasprzak