Broxtowe MP Nick Palmer said he has the support of the Government for the measure which he added would be a major safety improvement.

MP Nick Palmer decided to introduce the bill after a cyclist ran over a blind person's guide dog

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said he decided to introduce the bill after a cyclist ran over a blind person's guide dog in his Nottinghamshire constituency.

He said: "For elderly people, and poorly-sighted people especially, it is reassuring if, as a cyclist approaches, if he or she could ring a bell to indicate this is happening."

'Just shout'

However, fellow Labour MP and member of the all-party Parliamentary Committee on Cycling Ben Bradshaw said if a pedestrian stepped out on to the road the best thing a cyclist could do is to ride round them rather than taking a hand off the handlebars to ring a bell.

"I think the pedestrian would rather that as well," said Mr Bradshaw, MP for Exeter, told the same programme.

Nick Palmer MP and Ben Bradshaw MP discuss the bill

"This is nannyish. I think it is well intentioned, it sounds very sensible but the effects of this will be the opposite of what both Nick and I want to achieve which is better safety for pedestrians and cyclists."

He added: "There is a very cheap and easy alternative - and a far more effective one in my experience - and that is a shout."