A CYCLIST died in a collision with a van near Hadleigh today.The accident, which happened at 5.50am between Wolves Wood and Hadleigh, left the A1071 blocked for several hours.

A CYCLIST died in a collision with a van near Hadleigh today.

The accident, which happened at 5.50am between Wolves Wood and Hadleigh, left the A1071 blocked for several hours.

Details of the dead man's identity have yet to be released, although it is believed he is from the Hadleigh area.

Sergeant John Hawkes, of Suffolk police, said the driver of a light grey Ford Escort van involved in the crash was extremely distressed when officers arrived at the scene.

He added an accident investigation was being carried out and traffic was being diverted. This led to delays for many motorists travelling along the route this morning as queues built up.

The van suffered damage to its bumper, roof and a smashed windscreen. It is thought the cyclist was carried up to 30 metres as a result of the impact.

Both the cyclist and the van driver were traveling towards Hadleigh at the time of the accident.

The stretch of road where the tragedy took place is notorious for accidents and extra safety measures have been put in place over the past few months.

The tragedy comes at a time when calls have been made to reduce the current 60-mile-per-hour speed limit of the road.

Elsewhere, saw a number of other accidents on roads around the county.

In Felixstowe just before 9.25am two vehicles collided in Bath Road.

A police spokesman said neither driver were believed to have been seriously injured.

The Newmarket-bound carriageway of the A14, at Gazeley, was closed for one-hour-and-a-half hours following a collision between a lorry and a car. No serious injuries were suffered in the accident.

At 7.20am, a car left the road on the B1113 between Old Newton and Bacton, but the driver was not hurt. There were reports of ice patches and flooding in the area.

Another non-serious accident blocked the B1113 at Finningham Road, Rickinghall for a time. The collision involved a Ford Sierra and a Vauxhall Corsa.

A car was also involved in a minor collision with a lorry in Pound Corner, Barningham, near Stanton, at 8.35am. No one was injured.

Anyone with information about the accident on the A1071 is asked to call Pc Barry Hunn at Suffolk police's road policing unit on 01473 613730.