A cyclist took his life into his own hands when he allegedly pedalled along the A3 at night without any lights.

Drivers heading south on the three-lane carriageway between New Malden and Tolworth were stunned to see a man with carrier bags at about 8.50pm on Monday, March 5.

The man, who was wearing glasses, was arrested by police at the Tolworth roundabout and taken away in a police van.

Jonathan Fray, of Kingston Cycling Campaign, said: “Cycling without lights in the dark is a bad idea.

“I would avoid the A3 myself. It is perfectly legal but I would prefer to use the adjacent cycle lanes and service routes.”

A spokesman for Kingston police said: “To cycle down a busy three-lane dual carriageway without lights not only contravenes the Road Traffic Act but, more crucially, makes the cyclist vulnerable to accident and to causing a major accident in which others could then become involved.”

A 40-year-old man has been arrested and charged with pedal cycling in contravention of a direction given by a PC, to appear in court on March 20.