Alastair Dudgeon (51) was killed near to the Kincardine Bridge around 2am on 6th January last year after being struck by a car driven by James Sneddon.

He suffered a broken neck, fractured ribs and internal injuries – including to the main artery to the heart – in the crash.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard today that he regularly cycled to and from his work at Tesco in Camelon, on the other side of the Forth.

Sneddon (42), of Morar Drive in Falkirk, phoned an ambulance after his black Vauxhall Astra hit the mountain bike of Mr Dudgeon.

Paramedics found no sign of a pulse on the victim who was taken to the Forth Valley Hospital at Larbert.

Sneddon was charged with causing the death of Mr Dudgeon on the A985 road between Longannet roundabout and the Kincardine Bridge by driving dangerously, failing to observe the cyclist and colliding with the rear of his bike.

He denied the charge and was found guilty by a jury of the lesser offence of causing death by careless driving after a trial.

Sneddon, a customer services adviser, told police that he had been travelling at 40mph.

A witness who was driving home with his wife said the weather conditions were clear and although the stretch of road was unlit, visibility was reasonable.

They came across the black car parked horizontally across the carriageway and after they stopped saw that a person was lying in the middle of the road with others round about him.

James Teenan (39) said he saw a bike on the verge with a buckled wheel and a rear light that was still on. He said, “I believe it was flashing red.” A crash scene investigator said conditions were bright enough to be seen.

A colleague said that on that stretch of road a cyclist was entitled to be on the carriageway.

A police constable told the court he could clearly see the red flashing light as he drove to the scene and estimated he could see it from 200 to 300 metres away.

Advocate depute Bruce Erroch pointed out that the Highway Code said to give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as when overtaking a car.

The prosecutor told jurors that if they thought Mr Dudgeon contributed in some way to his death by not wearing a high visibility jacket, that was not something that absolved the driver.

He said that what mattered was that the driver should have seen him well before the collision and taken steps to avoid the cyclist.

Judge Nigel Morrison QC deferred sentence on Sneddon for reports.

Mr Dudgeon was a well-known and popular member of the communities of Bannockburn and Cowie who had moved to High Valleyfield, home village of his wife Patricia and her family, shortly before his death.

After the fatal crash, Mrs Dudgeon said, “Ali was a much-loved husband, father and stepfather and a devoted grandfather.

“His loss is a devastating blow that will be heart-felt by everyone who knew his larger than life personality and unique sense of humour.” A baker for more than 30 years with Tesco, outside of work Mr Dudgeon enjoyed playing golf and supporting Rangers.