FORMER mayor and keen cyclist Stan Pajak has a new set of wheels after falling off his bike.

Coun Pajak, who lives in Drove Road, was cycling home from work when he hit a patch of black ice following the heavy snow on February 8.

"The snow was the stuff of cheery Christmas cards. Unfortunately, often hidden is dangerous black ice," Coun Pajak said.

He said he became Swindon's answer to Eddie the Eagle.

"Hitting the ground my leg twisted at an awful angle and broke in two places," he said.

"Being some distance from home, but behind Drove Road, I subsequently had to crawl home.

"This was without doubt my longest and most painful crawl ever - yes, even worse than some of our protracted council meetings.

"I've got two broken bones in the leg - the tibia and fibula. They've put a plate in."

Coun Pajak said doctors had told him he could be off his feet for as long as 20 weeks.

"But I don't really know until I go back to hospital this week," he said.

"I can't walk. I have got some crutches and a wheelchair."

Coun Pajak, who works for Tyco, in Gorse Hill, has been cycling to his job for 27 years.

He said the break was the worst injury he had received.

"Normally when you come off the bike you get some bruises and no more," he said.

"The snow cushioned the blow but I looked down at my leg and it was all twisted.

"Even worse, you don't realise how important a leg is.

"I got a place in the London Marathon on April 22 to raise money for the Swindon Samaritans.

"I'm going to miss that."

Closer to home, last weekend he had to cancel a special trip away with his wife, Dawn, to mark Valentine's Day.

He will also be forced to miss the breast cancer fundraiser, the Playtex Moonwalk in London in May.

Coun Pajak will also be excused from doorknocking for the Liberal Democrats at the forthcoming May council election.

Coun Pajak said he wanted to thank the ambulance service and Great Western Hospital which put him on the road to recovery.

Coun Pajak was mayor in the 2002-2003 council and is leader of Liberal Democrats.

Swindon Samaritans' chairman Paul Bentley said the group's best wishes were with Coun Pajak.

"We were really looking forward to working with Stan on this event," Paul said. "It was going to raise a lot of money but also raise our profile.

"Hopefully there will be a chance to work with Stan again.

"If there is anybody else looking for a charity to run for, we would love to hear from them."

Anyone who would like to run the marathon in aid of the Samaritans should contact them on 07720 772848.