Medal winner Rob Hayles has today criticised unsafe roads after an investigation by The News revealed there are three accidents a week involving cyclists in Portsmouth.

The accident rate has barely changed over the past five years and cyclists are now calling on motorists to be more considerate towards them.

Mr Hayles, 34, from Cowplain, said: 'There is a big lack of respect for cyclists on the road, unfortunately.

'I try to speak to drivers but often all you get is abuse.

'We're seen as third class citizens by some people. Most drivers on the whole are okay, and I will come across thousands in one day, but it only takes three or four for there to be a problem.'

Cyclists say bikes should be encouraged on our roads as they do not pollute like cars.

But they claim councils are not building enough cycle lanes to make it safer.

'Some of us on a bike can nearly reach the speed limit, and drivers will look left and right, and not left again, and they are then on to the cyclist,' said Mr Hayles.

'But we are not Lycra louts – we're not causing congestion or pollution.'

Portsmouth's council bosses hope that new 20mph limits being rolled out across the city will reduce accident rates among cyclists.

But Roger Pink, chairman of Portsmouth Advanced Motorists, said there was not a general problem with the attitude of drivers towards cyclists.

He said: 'Some motorists are just as bad as some cyclists. Cyclists can be a problem as they are off the pavement, on the pavement – all over the place.

'If a driver goes through a red light, he is in trouble, but when a cyclist does it, no one bats an eyelid.'

Hampshire statistics for the number of accidents involving cyclists were not available.