EXTREME sports enthusiast David Sturdy was named last night as the cyclist killed by a car which hit him as he lay in the middle of a road.

The 48-year-old, from Darlington, died on Monday night when he was struck by a Nissan Primera on the A67 at Middleton St George, near Darlington.

Police are mystified as to why Mr Sturdy - who cycled miles on his bike - had apparently decided to lay down on a darkened road.

Despite numerous media appeals, his identity remained a mystery until police tracked down the shop which had sold him his Newcastle United FC mountain bike, found undamaged near the accident scene.

That led them to an address in Darlington and a relative identified his body on Thursday night.

Mr Sturdy, a former chef at Darlington Memorial Hospital, was a well-known local fitness fan in the 1980s, taking part in triathlons and marathons to raise cash for charity.

His love of gruelling sports, particularly mammoth bike rides, saw him swim, cycle and run all over the world.

In 1983 he took part in what was billed as the world's toughest race - the quadrathon - but failed to finish in the allotted time after a hoaxer switched a direction sign.

The following year he found himself at the centre of a bizarre scandal when dozens of models claimed they had been contacted by a hoax caller asking for sexy pictures in return for the chance to appear on an album sleeve for Geordie band Lindisfarne.

The girls contacted police after they were asked to send the photos to Mr Sturdy's Darlington address and Lindisfarne threatened the athlete with legal action.

Mr Sturdy said he had nothing to do with the hoax and had destroyed the pictures sent to his home.

Neighbours yesterday described him as a quiet man who was rarely seen at his home. He was working as a chef at a school in London.

Next-door neighbour Stephen Woodcock said: "He kept himself very much to himself. You wouldn't see him for a long time."

Another neighbour said Mr Sturdy had lived alone since the death of his mother Florence.

Police are appealing to anyone who saw Mr Sturdy on his bike before the accident to call 0191-386 4929.