Record-breaking sports cyclist Bruce Bursford has died after a road accident, police have said.

Mr Bursford, who set the fastest world time-trial record last year, died on Wednesday after an accident while cycling on the A47 in Norfolk.

Mr Bursford, 41, was involved in a collision with a lorry as he headed towards his home town of Dereham at about 1420GMT, a Norfolk police spokesman said.

He made headlines when he beat Olympic champion Chris Boardman's time-trial record in August 1999.

He cycled at an average speed of almost 39mph along a five-mile section of the A465 near Abergavenny.

The police spokesman said the accident happened at Easton.

Millennium award

He could not confirm whether the sportsman, who lived with his wife Tracey and two daughters, Samantha and Jade, had died at the scene.

The spokesman added that police were appealing for witnesses to the accident and were particularly keen to hear from anyone who saw the bicycle prior to the collision.

The driver of the lorry, a 35-year-old man from Toftwood near Dereham, was uninjured.

Mr Bursford was a former schoolboy cycling champion who also held nine other speed records.

Last year's feat was achieved on his specially built �25,000 bike called the Millennium Cycle, which weighed less than 10lb.

The record-breaking machine used silica tyres filled with helium and ceramic bearings designed to revolve with minimum friction.

Mr Bursford's great passion for design led him to invent several state of the art bikes, including the renowned Bursford Ultimate Bike for which he received a Millennium Product Award from the Design Council.

Author and TV celebrity Uri Geller was a close friend of Mr Bursford and helped him "train his mind" during his record-breaking bids.

Mr Geller said he was devastated at the loss of a friend whom he described as "the kindest, purest, most powerful and loving person I have ever known".