Labour MP Margaret Hodge apologises after hitting cyclist with her car door after parking

Margaret Hodge has apologised after hitting a cyclist with her car door after parking up (PA)

A senior Labour MP has apologised after hitting a cyclist with her car door after parking up.

Margaret Hodge, chairwoman of the high profile Public Accounts Committee, apologised to the cyclist after the incident at around 6pm last night.

The cyclist was said to be uninjured and neither ambulance nor police units were called to the scene, which was in her Barking constituency.

A spokeswoman for Mrs Hodge said the car was parked and the engine was not running when the clash occurred.

She said: "As she was getting out of the car, she struck a cyclist with the car door.

"She apologised profusely to the cyclist, he accepted the apology.

"My understanding is the only damage was to a light on the bike and the cyclist was unharmed."

Mrs Hodge was holding a mobile phone in her hand when the incident occurred but was not making a call at the time.

PA