A CYCLING group has been left stunned after a rider was forced off his bike and robbed.

The man was riding to work along Brierfield Road, Burnley, when he was attacked by three men.

He was forced from his bike and punched before both his mountain bike and bag were stolen.

Police have arrested three men on suspicion of robbery in connection with the attack at 6.30am yesterday.

This attack was at the end of what was Bike2Work week, during which a series of events took place to encourage people to ditch their cars and cycle instead.

Paul Whittaker, secretary of Pendle Forest Cycling Club, said such attacks were rare and hoped it would not deter people from cycling to work.

He said: "I am shocked to hear about this but I believe it is an isolated incident, it's certainly the first incident I have heard of.

"We recommend cycling as a healthy and environmentally friendly way to get to work.

"It is a shame it has come in national cycle week."

On Thursday Coun Ann Kerrigan took to her car to race a cyclist as part of the Bike2Work week campaign.

She was beaten by shopworker Carl Pawson by 10 minutes in the race from Foulridge Village Hall to the Trafalgar Street car park, Nelson.