Just before 8pm a 21-YEAR-OLD man was arrested yesterday after the death of a cyclist in a hit-and-run accident.

Window cleaner Kevin Frater, 38, had been riding a bicycle along a rural road not far from his home in Ushaw Moor, County Durham, on New Year's Day when he was struck by a vehicle.

The 38-year-old, who suffered fatal injuries, was thrown forward into the road. Police said that the driver failed to stop. The accident happened shortly before 8pm on the road between Bearpark and Ushaw College, near Durham, (CORRECT), just half a mile west of the Whitehouse Lane Junction.

Mr Frater was declared dead at the scene.

Police launched an investigation to track down the vehicle and its driver, retrieving paint scraped from the car and other debris.

A 21-year-old man from Langley Park was arrested yesterday (fri) morning in connection with the incident and a maroon-coloured Vauxhall Astra was recovered. The man is currently being held at Durham City Police station, where he was due to be interviewed yesterday (fri).

Both the car and the victim are now to be subjected to forensic tests.

Inspector Dave Hammond, who is leading the inquiries, said he wanted to hear from anyone who used the road between 7pm and 8pm on New Year's Day.

He said: "We assume Mr Frater was on his way home at the time of the accident. But we need to build up a picture of where he has been before then.

"If anyone saw him cycling on that road at any point before he was struck by the car, we would ask them to get in touch."

Mr Frater, was single and lived with his parents in Whitehouse Court, Ushaw Moor. Yesterday his family were too upset to speak.

Anyone who has information about the accident, or may be able to identify the vehicle involved, is asked to contact Durham police accident investigations unit on 0191-375 2159 or any police officer.