CYCLISTS across the county are being encouraged to join a ride in memory for two local men killed at a New Forest junction.

A ride in memory of Mark Brummel and Kieren Dix, who were both killed in separate car accidents at Ipley Crossroads, is to take place on May 30.

Former university lecturer and member of Southampton Cycling Campaign Dr Brummell, 53, was exploring the New Forest in 2012 when he died in a collision with a car at the crossroads.

Eastleigh man Keiran Dix was involved in an accident at the same crossroads in December 2016.

Following the collision, Mr Dix went into a coma and died on February 7, 2017.

Ipley Crossroads, near Beaulieu, has been the scene of more than 50 injury accidents - including two fatalities - over the past 20 years.

The memory ride, organised by Southampton Cycling Campaign has taken place every year since Dr Brummel's death, however the event was unable to go ahead last year due to restrictions brought by the coronavirus pandemic.

Southampton Cycling Campaign member Lindsi Bluemel said she knew Dr Brummel for "many years", adding that he was "well-known" within the local cycling community and would often help mend and restore bikes.

She said: "There will be a stop at Ipley Cross to remember Mark and Kieren, all the other cyclists who have received life-changing injuries at this junction and local cyclists who have been killed on the roads in the last year.

"As we have the promise of some warmer, drier weather to come, now is the time for getting bicycles out of sheds and making up for months of inactivity."

Cyclists will assemble at The Ship Inn, Old Redbridge Road, from 9.45 am and leave at 10am on an 18 mile circular route which takes in Eling, Ipley Cross and Lyndhurst.

There will be a coffee and cake stop at the Drift Inn on Beaulieu Road and cyclists can stop for lunch at Spot in the Woods in Ashurst or continue back to Redbridge.

The ride will use quiet roads, off-road paths and forest tracks; the pace will be gentle and there is only one hill.

Earlier this year Hampshire County Council was given the go-ahead to turn Ipley Crossroads into a staggered junction.

The authority welcomed the decision but confirmed that the scheme also had to be approved by the government.

Plans to turn it into a staggered junction were approved by the New Forest National Park Authority (NPA) in January.

A new section of the C97 Lyndhurst to Ipley route will be built to create a T-junction 50 metres south of the current crossroads, with the redundant section of road returning to open forest.