Royal Mail officials have paid tribute to a Warwickshire postman who was killed while cycling to work.

Niki Savage was struck by a van as he rode his Royal Mail bike along the A46 towards his depot in Alcester, Warwickshire.

A 60-year-old man from Leicester was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and released on police bail pending further inquiries after he walked into the city's Beaumont Leys Police Station.

He must return to the station on June 15. Mr Savage, aged 28, from Bidford on Avon, had worked at the sorting office in Alcester for three years.

The collision happened at about 3.20am on Tuesday. The road was closed for 11 hours as forensic officers examined the scene and his bike and one trainer remained among the debris of the crash, approximately two miles north of the Bidford island.

Workers at the sorting office in Alcester were devastated after learning that the popular postie had died.

A spokesman for Royal Mail yesterday said: "Niki was a very well-liked man who absolutely loved his job."

Warwickshire Police appealed for anyone with any information about the accident to come forward. They described the vehicle involved in the collision as a cream-coloured medium to large Iveco goods vehicle manufactured circa 1992 or 1993, which could have J,K,L or M registration.

Sergeant Nick Lyle, from Warwickshire Police Road Policing Unit, also appealed directly to the small number of drivers who travelled along the A46 between 3am and 3.30 am on Tuesday morning.

It is estimated that about 25 vehicles travelled along the road around the time of the collision.