GOOD samaritans in Hereford? Sadly, not driving down Aylestone Hill.

Having lived in London in the recent past, where you expect people to be slightly less friendly and helpful than in my native Hereford, I had this rosy illusion of my hometown shattered last Thursday when I was cycling to work.

Coming out of Southbank Road onto Aylestone Hill, I had what you might call a 'catastrophic failure' of my bike.

This left me lying in the road with the cars travelling into town having to drive around me! No-one stopped... How can they do that?

I was sufficiently badly injured to require a ride to the County Hospital A&E department in an ambulance, called by the exemplary actions of a young girl from Aylestone High School. She was the only person to come to my assistance, despite being in the road for about two minutes.

I was tended to promptly at A&E and was able to return to work the following day - but it could have been worse.

Drivers, have a thought for people lying in the road. It's not a place most people choose to have a nap on the way to work!

My thanks go to the girl who called the ambulance and to the local solicitor who took my injured bike home.

MARCUS GARLAND,

Bodenham Road, Herefor