Cyclist killed in lorry collision at Tower Bridge Road Abbey Street junction

Police were called to the scene at 10.05am. The London Ambulance Service and the Air Ambulance also attended the incident but the woman was pronounced dead just after 10.15am.

Tower Bridge Road was closed to traffic, with long delays to local bus services.

The 31-year-old lorry driver was arrested in connection with the incident and is now in custody at a south London police station.

Any witnesses are asked to call the road death investigation unit at Catford on 020 8285 1574.

In March this year Mayor of London Boris Johnson said that Transport for London "intends to commission a study to identify possible pedestrian accessibility and safety improvements at this junction during the next financial year".

The Mayor's comments came in response to efforts by local Labour and Lib Dem councillors to lobby TfL to add a pedestrian phase to the traffic lights at the busy junction close to Bermondsey Square.

Local London Assembly member Val Shawcross recently tabled a question to the Mayor to find out what progress, if any, TfL has made with the study.

Southwark Council leader Peter John said on Twitter that Friday's fatal collision is "a terrible tragedy".

Later he added that council officers would be looking at the junction over the weekend and making proposals to City Hall and Transport for London.

Grange ward councillor Mark Gettleson tweeted that he is "absolutely shocked" by the news. "Perhaps now – too late – we'll get our crossing," he said.