A WORLD champion cyclist thanked the men who found his phone ahead of the final stage of the Tour de Yorkshire by giving them one of his racing shirts.

The police community support officer who found the phone has given the prized shirt to his nephew who is learning to ride a bike again after a recent accident.

Morgan Kneisky, a three-time World Track Cycling Champion, dropped his phone during the build up to the race on Sunday morning.

But eagle-eyed PCSO Mark Ballinger and PC Chris Swales, both based at Coulby Newham, found it in Middlesbrough’s Centre Square.

When the phone began to ring, the officers answered the call in order to return it to the rightful owner and were left stunned when they discovered that it belonged to the Team Raleigh racer.

After returning the phone, the officers were presented with Morgan’s cycling jersey as a token of gratitude.

PCSO Ballinger said: “I came across the phone and when PC Swales answered the call and we realised who it belonged to it was a shock to us both.

“Morgan was very grateful to us for returning his phone and he presented us with his jersey as a token of thanks.

“I was really surprised by it, he didn’t need to do that. We were just doing our jobs, but it was very kind of him and the jersey will make a great gift for my nephew who is a big cycling fan.”

The 28-year-old French cyclist, who joined Team Raleigh in 2014, was world champion in the scratch race in 2009 and in the Madison in 2013 and 2015.

The PCSO later tweeted the rider with a picture of his nephew wearing his top with pride, saying: "He's a rider, I've given him your shirt."

The grateful cyclist replied: "Looks very good on him, he his ready for some long ride this summer. Thanks a lot again."