SWINDON Mayor Arthur Archer was forced to cancel an engagement after suffering a heart scare.

The 74-year-old civic head was due to attend a fundraising evening for Bristol Children's Hospital at Blunsdon House Hotel on Sunday night, but fell ill on Saturday night and awoke with severe chest pains in the morning.

Coun Archer who suffered his first heart attack in 1977, retired due to ill health in 1987 and has had numerous heart problems since was back on official business again last night. He attended the induction of Dorcan Ecume-nical Church's new Anglican minister, the Reverend Tony Knapp, at St Timothy's Church in Liden, after spending much of yesterday in bed recovering.

Coun Archer said: "I started feeling ill while I was watching the Gang Show at the Wyvern Theatre on Saturday night.

"I woke up with chest pains on Sunday and I grew more and more ill as the day went on and unfortunately I had to cancel my engagement in Blunsdon.

"It was a mild form of angina and I'm feeling better now and although I'm still a little woozy, I'm determined to carry on with my engagements. I've struggled on with my health for years and I've got over the shock of waking up every morning I used to be surprised to see daylight."