A BOLTON cyclist was killed after being mown down by a speeding stolen car on a busy commuter road yesterday.

Crompton Cornthwaite, 44, from Springfield Road, Kearsley, was struck by the Austin Maestro on the A666 in Clifton during the afternoon rush hour.

A member of Bolton Clarion Cycling Club, Mr Corthwaite had cycled all over the world and had only recently returned from Cuba.

The father of a 10-year-old girl, he was a special needs teacher at Deane School for many years and a Bolton official of the National Union of Teachers.

He left teaching two years ago to become a health education worker with North Manchester health authority going into schools talking about the dangers of drugs.

Mr Cornthwaite was riding home from work towards Kearsley. He was struck near the junction with Moss Colliery Road and dragged along the road "a considerable distance" by the car, which then lost control and collided with a Ford Escort van.

The driver and passenger tried to run off but were caught by passers-by and are now under police guard in hospital.

The driver, 19, suffered severe bruising and concussion. His passenger, 17, has a broken leg.

Escort driver Edward Randal, 40, of Henfield Road, Astley, suffered cuts and bruises. His passenger Irvine Harrison, 52, of Braemar Drive, Sale had to be cut free by firemen and taken to Hope Hospital where his condition was said to be serious but not life threatening. Former colleagues today paid tribute to Mr Cornthwaite who was assistant branch secretary of the NUT in Bolton.

Mr Derek O'Brien, acting head of Deane School, said: "Crompton was a well-known and respected teacher. We are absolutely devastated."

Mr Bob Trueblood, a former official and a colleague at Deane School added: "Crompton was passionate about cycling.

"It was a bonus of his new job that he had further to cycle on his way to work."

Mr Tom Hanley, also an NUT official and a friend of Mr Cornthwaite's for more than 20 years said: "Anyone who was ever taught by Crompton will remember him with great fondness."

Educated at George Tomlinson School, Kearsley and then Loughborough University, he also taught at Sharples School.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.