Cyclists who use the Kennet and Avon Canal towpath are being warned to slow down after a Devizes pensioner was knocked over by a cyclist.

Gwen Page, of Avon Road, was struck while walking her dog, Ruben, on the towpath near to the cafe at the Caen Hill flight of locks on December 2 just after 9am.

The incident comes just a few weeks after British Waterways installed warning signs near this location due to incidents of cyclists travelling very fast.

The cyclist who struck Mrs Page failed to stop and the 76-year-old was unable to get up as she has a replacement hip and knee.

Her glasses flew off and one of the lenses came out. She suffered bruising to the left side of her face and her right knee. However a male jogger who saw what happened came to her aid.

The jogger walked with Mrs Page some of the way on the towpath making sure she was alright and she walked the short distance home where she called her daughter, Debbie Handy.

Mrs Page, a grandmother, said: “I was walking along and Ruben was on his lead on my right hand side when suddenly I was hit. I didn’t hear the cyclist coming.

“I was shaken by what happened and I just think that cyclists should have bells on their bikes to warn walkers they are coming.”

Despite having arthritis Mrs Page, who was a dinner lady at Devizes School, is active and walks every day. She regularly uses the towpath.

Mrs Handy, 44, who lives in Rowde, said: “I find this incident involving my mother rather alarming. It could have been much worse. We would like to thank the jogger for helping.”

Susie Mercer, communications manager at British Waterways, said: “We are very sorry for what happened to Mrs Page.

“We will carry out a full investigation.

“Three weeks ago we put up signs, in conjunction with Sustrans, asking cyclists to slow down because we had received reports of cyclists going very fast.

“If cyclists aren’t able to manage themselves in an appropriate way we will have to put in place other measures.”