Payout after hedge debris causes crash

A disabled cyclist has been awarded compensation after he was thrown on to the road when his bike tyres were punctured by hedge debris left in the road.Now Andy Ebben has issued a safety warning and urged landowners to keep country lanes clear.

Mr Ebben, a health and safety consultant from Market Drayton, was cycling between Cheswardine and Adbaston when the tyres of his recumbent bicycle were punctured by hawthorn and blackthorn debris.

He was thrown on to the road, suffering severe cuts, bruises and grazes and his £2,500 bike was badly damaged.

His spinal injury meant he was unable to get up and was forced to call for help from the roadside.

Mr Ebben has now been awarded compensation to cover the cost of repairing his bike following the accident in November.

The 55-year-old said it was his determination to prevent similar accidents happening which motivated him to take legal action.

Mr Ebben said: "I work from home, but go out every day on my bike. On the day of the accident I came around a blind corner and immediately saw the debris.

"The tractor was on the opposite side of the road and drove past me, debris was flying everywhere and although I slowed down I felt the tyres go and I hit the ground hard. If there had been warning signs, I would have taken an alternative route that day.

"I accept the occasional puncture is inevitable and I do face the risk of coming off the bike. However, there is a clear responsibility to warn road users of potential hazards and to clear the road as soon as possible. This was not an isolated incident."