POLICE have dismissed internet rumours that a Sri Lankan-born man who died in a freak accident last month was murdered.

Kandiah Thangarajah, an ethnic Tamil of Hamilton Crescent, Harrow, died after a collision with a cyclist on Saturday, May 26.

The 60-year-old was on his morning walk along Eastcote Lane, in South Harrow, when the accident occurred at about 8.55am.

The father of two died the following day after he was transferred to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in Queen's Square, London.

Police confirmed that the male cyclist - a white European - had stopped at the scene and had been spoken to by officers.

Rumours circulated on several Norway-based pro-Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) websites that Mr Thangarajah was the victim of a premeditated killing.

Police confirmed on Thursday there were no "suspicious circumstances" surrounding the death.

PC Mahesh Nandha, from Harrow Police, said: "Police have confirmed that there are no suspicious circumstances around this case and would like to offer our deepest condolences to the family.

"I would also like to clarify that the cyclist who collided with Mr Thangarajah was a white European."

A statement issued by Mr Thangarajah's family called for an end to the vicious rumours.

Mr Thangarajah's nephew Natkunam Wimalendran said: "We are satisfied that my uncle's death was an accident and we are satisfied with the police's action.

"We would ask people to respect our privacy at this difficult time and our thoughts are also with the cyclist who collided with my uncle."

An inquest into his death was opened and adjourned. The funeral was held in Croydon, Surrery, on Sunday, June 3.