An appeal has been launched to find a hit-and-run cyclist who left a woman scarred for life after crashing into her in south-east London.

Andrea McVeigh, 44, was hit by a cyclist who mounted the pavement in Tower Bridge Road, Bermondsey, at around 6pm on April 14.

The impact knocked Ms McVeigh to the ground and she suffered “significant facial injuries”.

Ms McVeigh said the cyclist had been bypassing traffic by speeding on the pavement.

After the crash he said he was going to lock his bike up, but then sped off instead.

Ms McVeigh said: “I think if I'd been elderly or a child I'd be dead now.”

Police have released CCTV images of the cyclist they want to speak with.

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Sergeant David Hunt, from the Met Police’s Cathedrals Safer Neighbourhoods Team, said: "We are keen to trace the man pictured in the image. The victim sustained significant facial injuries and If not for her husband and a member of the public stopping to help she would have been left on that footpath.

“I would encourage anyone who recognises him to contact us immediately."

Chief Superintendent Zander Gibson, borough commander for Southwark, said: “The vast majority of cyclists are decent honest hardworking people but in this case I think the person responsible for knocking the victim over needs to explain their actions to us. I'd encourage them to get in touch at the earliest opportunity."

Responding to criticism on social media that police initially failed to act robustly enough following the incident, he said: “On Monday this incident was brought to my attention during a Twitter chat.

“It must have been an awful encounter for the victim, both physically and emotionally and she has my heartfelt sympathy for what she went through.

“We sent an officer to the scene and they completed an investigation.

"There was a delay in following this investigation up but I am confident we are now taking appropriate steps to identify the person responsible.”

Anyone who has any information should contact Southwark police on 0207 232 6220 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 quoting CRIS 3010559/15.