BOSSES of a popular burger business have expressed their shock after one of their drivers was physically and verbally ‘assaulted’ on two different occasions.

The delivery driver from Boom Burger in Kendal-which opened in the town last month-had his bike and then the back of his head hit allegedly by a passing cyclist on the cycle path on Shap Road.

And on the second occasion he was 'threatened' by another cyclist for using the cycle lane.

The company is planning on increasing the number of electrically assisted pedal cycles (EAPCs) it has in its delivery fleet and after the incidents bosses will be attaching cameras onto their employees’ helmets, as well as purchasing improved helmets, in case similar incidents happen again.

“We’ve been running for about a month now but in the first two weeks of opening our driver got assaulted,” said Boom Burger’s marketing manager, Elena Nagle.

“With a pedal bike he’s allowed in the cycle lane and I think perhaps other cyclists have got confused and thought it was a moped.

“The first time a cyclist rode past and hit the food box on the back of the bike and then whacked him in the back of the head with their hand.

“We were so shocked.

“And then the second time another cyclist on the cycle lane said to him ‘what are you doing on here if I see you again I’ll beat you up’.

"He was threatened.

“We want to invest in more bikes to save more Co2 emissions but it’s a bit worrying that this is the reaction we’ve got so far.

“No one should have to experience that he’s just doing his job.”

Rules on electric bikes published on GOV.UK state that: “If a bike meets the EAPC requirements it’s classed as a normal pedal bike.

“This means you can ride it on cycle paths and anywhere else pedal bikes are allowed.”