Basil Clarke (65) was cycling on the southbound carriageway of the A1 when he in collision with a lorry and suffered serious injuries.

The accident happened on Saturday, and Mr Clarke was taken to Peterborough District Hospital, but died on Monday.

Friends have come forward to voice fond tributes to the former champion cyclist, stonemason and duck breeder, who lived in Geeston, near Stamford, with wife Jane.

Mr Clarke, who was known as Bas, joined the Leicestershire-based Rockingham Forest Wheelers cycling group as a 15-year-old, and went on to win trophies in road bicycle time trials.

Club president Norman Needham, of Cottingham, near Market Harborough, said: "He was up there with the best at the height of his career.

"He won most of the championships he took part in.

"It was down to dedication – he didn't do anything by half measures. Everything had to be spot on. The older members of the club are devastated.

"He made a success of everything he touched. It's a tragedy it should end like this."

Renowned landscape architect Bunny Guinness, of Sibberton Lodge, in Thornhaugh, near Peterborough, knew Mr Clarke and he had even helped her with an entry for the Chelsea Flower Show.

She said: "Basil was an extraordinary character. Anything he did, he did to perfection, even though his main passions were so diverse.

"I thoroughly enjoyed working with him and learned a huge amount from him. He will be sorely missed."

Mr Clarke was also a passionate duck breeder, and could have more than 1,000 ducklings at his home, which would grow to adults and then be sold to people across the country.

He kept 80 different species of ornamental waterfowl and spent time building homes for his ducks, which earned him national exposure as appeared on BBC's Countryfile and in national newspapers.

Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses who saw either Mr Clarke or a Daf XF lorry in the moments leading up to the collision, which happened near the Great Casterton turn of the A1 shortly before 8.40am on Saturday.

nAnyone with any information is asked to call Leicestershire police on 0116 222 2222, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

nA 50-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the accident and released on bail pending further inquiries.