PENSIONER Joyce Goddard is counting the cost of cyclists riding on footpaths in Pewsey.

Mrs Goddard, 80, of Coronation Close, Pewsey, said she was bowled over while walking along the footpath that leads from the end of her cul de sac to the Best One shop.

She said she had been to the shop as she does every morning to collect a paper when a cyclist ran into her.

To make matters worse, she said, the cyclist was parish councillor Wendy Hughes who lives nearby in Wilcot Road.

She said: "I ended up flat on my back with the bike and Mrs Hughes on top of me."

Coun Hughes told the Gazette: "I am still very upset by the incident so would rather not make any comment at this stage."

Mrs Goddard said that although she recognised Mrs Hughes and saw her regularly, she did not know at the time of the incident on February 8 that she was a parish councillor.

She said: "I banged my head and I hurt my back. I was lucky I did not break any bones."

Mrs Goddard said she had seen Coun Hughes cycling on the footpath which does not have any No Cycling signs on previous occasions and remonstrated with her. "But she is not the only one who cycles along the pavement. I have had to tell others off."

Mrs Goddard said Coun Hughes helped her to her feet with the aid of a passer-by. "She did ask me if she should call a doctor but I said I was alright. She also came round with some flowers later and apologised. I did not want the flowers just a reassurance she would not ride along the path again."

Mrs Goddard said she had not reported the incident to the police but had written to the parish council to ask it to endorse her fears about cyclists using footpaths.

One of the staff in the Best One shop said it was possible because of the layout of the shop forecourt where it meets the footpath, that a pedestrian could step out into the path of a cyclist without being seen.