A cyclist is in hospital with eye injuries after he was hit in the face by a tangerine thrown from a passing car in Oxford.

At 4.40pm on Monday, the man was cycling along the cycle track next to the Northern Bypass towards Marston, just past the Cherwell Bridge, when he was hit by the piece of fruit.

He was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital, where he has been kept under observation after suffering serious bruising to his left eye and swelling and bleeding from the iris.

Pc Chris Reilly, based at Cowley police station, said: “This may not seem too serious an incident, but the piece of fruit was travelling at high speed and it has left the cyclist in a lot of pain.

“It hurt him so much he first thought he had been hit by a brick.

“This may have been unintentional, but I am concerned it was not. The rider was wearing a reflective jacket and lights and would have been easy to see.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact Pc Reilly on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.