A CYCLIST from Stroud died from multiple injuries after crashing into a truck while riding home without lights under the influence of alcohol, an inquest heard today.

Lee Wood, 44, of Parliament Street, Stroud, hit the back of a parked Toyota pick-up on an unlit road in Brimscombe on the way back from Minchinhampton Football Club.

He had more than double the legal alcohol limit for a car driver after drinking cider at the club.

The inquest heard that the tragedy happened on May 13 at about 10.32pm on an unclassified road approaching Burleigh Lane in Brimscombe.

Police collision investigator PC Joseph Sample said Mr Wood had been seen at the fun day by his nephew Oliver Porlock earlier that evening.

The Carrera mountain bike Mr Wood was riding had no lights and the road where he died was unlit and would have been dark, the officer said. Mr Wood was not wearing a crash helmet.

PC Sample said Mr Wood had successfully ridden down a steep 1:12 gradient hill and he went past a parked Audi car without incident. But 27 metres further on he hit the back of the Toyota pick-up.

Toyota owner, Leon Dunlop, who was in his house at the time heard a 'whizzing noise' from the bike and then the sound of the impact. He went outside, saw his truck was damaged and then saw the bicycle before spotting Mr Wood and calling 999.

PC Sample said that if Mr Wood had had a front light on his bike it would probably have provided sufficient illumination to light up the rear reflector of the pick-up and warn him of its presence in the road.

The coroner said a GP report on Mr Wood showed he had alcohol dependency issues and had in the past sought the help of rehab services.