A HEARTBROKEN son last night paid tribute to his "perfect role model" father who was killed in a cycling accident.

David Sayers, 58, was run over by several vehicles after being knocked from his bike by a car on a busy dual carriageway on Teesside.

Mr Sayers, from Norton, near Stockton, and his son, John, were heading home from a bike ride to the coast when the accident happened on the A689, between Hartlepool and Wolviston.

John, a student at Leeds University, had come home for the weekend to go riding with his father - a keen cyclist.

The 22-year-old said: "It was the perfect January day, sunny and clear. That's why we decided to go out. It was on the way back that it happened.

"I was in front of my dad and I turned around to see he had been knocked off his bike. I didn't see the initial impact but I saw some of the aftermath."

After being knocked from his bike, Mr Sayers is believed to have been run over by other vehicles travelling on the dual carriageway.

Emergency services were at the scene within minutes, and ambulance crews tried to resuscitate Mr Sayers at the roadside.

But he was pronounced dead less than an hour later after being taken to the University Hospital of Hartlepool.

The driver of the first car stopped immediately and was interviewed by police at the scene.

A father-of-two, Mr Sayers worked as an electrical engineer for chemical company Huntsman and was to retire in April after 45 years at the company's Teesside plant.

John described Mr Sayers as a model father to him and his sister Caroline, 29, and a loving husband to his wife, Marie.

He said that over the years he and his father had cycled thousands of miles together around the UK, including in the Lake District.

John said: "He was a great family man. You could come to him with any problem and he would solve it.

"If myself or my sister were ever in trouble, he would sort it out for us.

"He always had a smile on his face and had a fantastic sense of humour.

"He was looking forward to his retirement, and his sole objective when he finished work was to make sure my mum had a great time."

As well as cycling, Mr Sayers, who came originally from Wolviston, was a keen diver and was a member of a diving club in Billingham.

John, who is studying for a masters degree in Leeds, added: "My dad lived life to the full, and even though it's really hard for the family at the moment, at least we can say he died doing something he loved."

Along with police, the family are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the accident, which took place just after 4pm on Saturday, to contact Cleveland Police.

Mr Sayers was wearing a red waterproof jacket and cycling helmet.

Anyone with information should contact Cleveland Police on (01642) 301552.