The dead, whose mangled bodies were covered with sheets in a dramatic scene on the road, were members of a local amateur cycle racing team ranging in age from 35 to 58 who had been cycling on a road near Lamezia Terme in the southern Italian region of Calabria.

Two other members of the local amateur cycle racing team were seriously injured.

The driver, a Moroccan immigrant, was arrested and charged with multiple manslaughter.

Police said blood tests showed the man, who was himself hospitalised for injuries, was under the influence of marijuana. They said he was driving illegally because his licence had been withdrawn six months ago for dangerous driving.

The man's son, who was in the care with him, was also injured.