A CYCLIST died after falling off his bike, an inquest heard.

Colin Edwards, 56, was with his nephew, Christopher Mulhern, when he fell from the bicycle and hit his head on the road.

He had set off from Buckhurst Hill and was heading towards Sewardstonebury when he came off his bike in Daws Hill on the morning of July 26 last year.

Mr Edwards, of Albert Close, in Grays, had not been wearing a cycle helmet, and was taken to Whipps Cross Hospital, Leytonstone, with head injuries where he died later that afternoon.

Speaking after the inquest, at Chelmsford, Mr Edwards' sister Shirley Mulhern said: “He loved cycling and that was one of the only times he did not wear a helmet.

“He used to raise money for the British Heart Foundation by doing charity bike rides.

“We found a bag packed with the helmet, we assume he must have just forgotten it.”

Assistant Coroner Tina Harrington recorded a verdict of accidental death.