A GRANDMOTHER of six was left badly injured after being colliding with a cyclist while walking along a Nailsea footpath. Seventy three-year-old Joy Tucker was walking along the lane in Valley Gardens when a cyclist appeared from nowhere and rode into her.

A GRANDMOTHER of six was left badly injured after being colliding with a cyclist while walking along a Nailsea footpath.Seventy three-year-old Joy Tucker was walking along the lane in Valley Gardens when a cyclist appeared from nowhere and rode into her.Mrs Tucker suffered a fractured arm, cuts to her head and a black eye and bruising to the right side of her body. The cyclist stopped and called for help and nearby residents rallied round until paramedics arrived.The cyclist left the scene without giving his name or leaving his contact details.Mrs Tucker was taken to Bristol Royal Infirmary where her arm was put in plaster and she received 12 stitches for her head wounds.Now the pensioner, who was on her way to the health centre for a check up when the accident happened, says she is too frightened to use the pathway which was put in when the subway at Stock Way South was filled in last year.Her husband Nat said: "This lane is not a cycleway, it is a pavement for pedestrians. My wife is extremely concerned that the outcome could have been much worse if the cyclist had collided with a frail person or a pregnant woman."The accident was reported to police, but because it happened on a pavement and was not a road traffic accident they were limited to what they could do."Mr Tucker is now calling for more controls on cyclists to stop them riding on footpaths.He added: "Neither my wife or I are against cyclists, but with the fact it is a popular and growing hobby, better controls need to be introduced to stop cycling on footpaths and prevent accidents like this from happening."There are barriers at the entrance to this lane which are supposed to stop cyclists from using it, but they are still getting through."This accident has resulted in my wife losing her confidence and she is now nervous of venturing out in case it happened again."Nailsea Local Action Team (LAT) is keen to tackle the issue of people cycling on the pavement.LAT chairman John Hunter said: "This illustrates the problem we have with mixing cyclists and pedestrians on the footway."This problem is something the LAT wants to tackle."Mr Hunter is appealing for anyone with information about the accident to contact him on 01275 856142 or e-mail juh@aquabiotech.freeserve.co.uk