Heart-stopping footage shows a cyclist's miraculous near miss with a car sporting what appeared to be police livery.

Dan Brothwell, 49, came within inches of being hit by the car which was marked ‘Dog Handler' and ‘Response Unit'.

The car, which had blue and yellow markings and a police-style lightbar on the roof, was filmed overtaking Dan on the A443 near Worcester.

The dad-of-two was forced to swerve out of the way as the Skoda Octavia hurtled past him on March 27 last year.

Dan initially thought had almost been mown down by a cop car so reported the incident to West Mercia Police.

In fact, the car belonged to David Merritt, 73, who was found guilty of careless driving when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates' Court on January 6.

Merritt, of Cirencester, Glos., was fined £103, given three points on his licence and ordered to pay costs and a surcharge totalling £441.

Speaking after the case Dan, who runs campaign group Bike Worcester, said: "I could see the cars travelling towards me, and was aware there was a car approaching from behind. "

"Given that there wasn't enough space to provide 1.50m and overtake safely my expectation was that I'd hear the car slow down to wait, but when I realised this wasn't going to happen I swerve to the left just before the driver overtakes."

"As it sped past me I could see what looked like police livery and thought it was a police car."

"Had I not taken this evasive action the space left would have likely been within 400mm (40cm)."

"Driving such as this is antisocial, dangerous and illegal, and in the moments before and after are frightening."

After reporting the near-miss, Dan was told the car was not a police vehicle.

On his Facebook page, Merritt has posted pictures of him posing in a uniform next to the car with his two dogs in cages in the boot.

Writing on his page two days after his conviction, he fumed: "I intend to lobby MP and Parliament for changes in the regulations governing cyclists of which right now there are very few. "

"Everyone is aware and can be seen every day, arrogance and sense of total entitlement displayed by cyclists."