Man found cycling on M25 motorway was 'sent there by phone app'

The cyclist was spotted on the motorway during rush hour

A man found cycling along the M25 motorway said he had been mistakenly directed there by a phone app, according to Surrey police.

A man found cycling along the M25 motorway had been mistakenly directed there by a phone app, Surrey police have said.

The male cyclist was spotted on the hard shoulder near the junction with the M3 during rush hour this morning.

He had been looking for a shorter route home from work when a phone app mistakenly sent him cycling several miles down the motorway, according to police.

The force tweeted: "Cyclist stopped and after a long conversation he has been safely removed with his copy of his ticket for £50.

"Phone app sent him on motorway so thought it ok."

Motorist Ben Newman said he saw the cyclist between junctions 12 and 13 on his journey to work at Heathrow.

"He was merrily cycling along, like he was taking in the sights", he told the BBC.

"I've worked at Heathrow for ten years, I've seen some crazy stuff but nothing as crazy as this."

After stopping the man and having "a long conversation with him" police removed the cyclist from the road and issued him with a £50 fine.