A PENSIONER who fell off his pedal cycle on a busy road has praised two women who came to his aid. John Nightingale, 72, was cycling along St Peter’s Park Road at Broadstairs when his wheel stuck in a rut.

He was thrown from his bike into the path of oncoming traffic. Two passing motorists stopped cars while they helped him to his feet.

Mr Nightingale said: “My heartfelt thanks go to these two unidentified women who may well have helped to save my life.” After helping Mr Nightingale, the women went back into the road to pick up his glasses and his bike.

Mr Nightingale of Chandos Road, Broadstairs, claims the rut was left behind after recent roadworks.

He said: ”I complained to the council, who said they could do nothing. However, a few days later the hole had miraculously disappeared. Why they couldn’t just admit it was their fault is beyond me.

“What’s the point of a highways department if you deny having anything to do with highways?” Mr Nightingale was not badly hurt in the accident but says he was very lucky.

He added: "I have a racing bike with quite thin wheels. A younger person may have been cycling a lot faster than I was, and been hurt badly. It’s even possible a motorcyclist could have hit the rut at 30 mph. That could have been a disaster.”