Hertfordshire Police brand cyclist a 'dummy' for riding up M1 motorway in the rain

The unnamed cyclist had to be escorted off the London-bound M1 motorway near Redbourn, Hertfordshire on Sunday

A picture tweeted by police of an unnamed man riding his bike up the hard shoulder on the M1 (@roadpoliceBCH)

A cyclist has been branded a 'dummy' by police after being spotted riding along the hard shoulder of the M1 in Hartfordshire in the wind and pouring rain.

The unnamed cyclist, who appeared to have no lights on his bike and was wearing a green hooded jacket, black trousers and a dark backpack, had to be escorted off the London-bound M1 motorway near Redbourn, Hertfordshire in Sunday.

Riding a bicycle on a motorway is illegal in Britain. The Highway Code makes clear that: ‘Motorways must not be used by pedestrians, holders of provisional motorcycle or car licences, riders of motorcycles under 50 cc, cyclists, horse riders, certain slow-moving vehicles and those carrying oversized loads’.

Beds, Cambs & Herts Roads Policing posted an image of the cyclist battling wind, rain and riding alongside vehicles travelling at 70mph, on their twitter account writing "Somebody thought it was ok to cycle to London on the M1, escorted safely off at Redbourn. #dontbeadummy".

Police confirmed that the man was advised that riding on the motorway was against the law - but no further action was taken.