A cyclist who died after collapsing while riding home through Shifnal was a popular teacher who worked in Stafford, Sandwell and Wolverhampton.

Michael Matthews, aged 54, was found in Haughton Road at 9pm on Tuesday.

Staff at Stafford Sports College today revealed he had been at an evening event at the school giving up his time for free to help youngsters make GCSE choices.

Mr Matthews, of Maple Wood Avenue, Telford, had been at the school for 12 years.

An inclusion co-ordinator at the time of his death, he had trained as a physical education teacher in the 1970s and previously worked at Moreton School in Bushbury, Wolverhampton, and at Shireland Language College, in Smethwick.

Dr Rowena Blencowe, head teacher of Stafford Sports College, said Mr Matthews had left the Wolverhampton Road school at 7pm and had headed off on his bicycle towards his home in Telford on a 30-mile journey.

She said: “Everybody is very sad to have lost such a wonderful teacher. We will be holding a special assembly in celebration of his life.”

A post mortem found Mr Matthews died of natural causes. His funeral is on March 7, at Telford Crematorium at 3.30pm.