Everton football star Darron Gibson accused of hitting cyclist while drink-driving

Everton midfielder Darren Gibson is accused of being involved in a hit-and-run before crashing his car into a petrol pump while drunk. Gibson, 27, is charged with hitting a cyclist near his home in Altringham, Cheshire, before driving away from the scene of the accident.

Police were called and charged the footballer with driving without due care and attention, driving with excess alcohol and failing to stop after a road traffic collision.

He is due to appear at Trafford Magistrate's Court on 1 September to face the charges.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: "[The charges] are in relation to an incident on Sunday 16 August where police were called to reports that a car had collided with a cyclist on Park Road, Trafford, and failed to stop before pulling into a petrol station on nearby Dunham Road and colliding with a pump.

Gibson, originally from Derry, started his career at Manchester United before being sold to Everton for around £1m ($1.6m) in 2012. He has yet to feature this season due to problems with an ongoing groin injury.