THE wife of a keen cyclist who was left seriously injured after an accident has launched a petition to improve road safety.

Mandy Holberry is calling for measures, including cycle lanes, after her husband, Dave, was left in a coma following the accident on the Old Malton roundabout last month.

The couple, who live in Norton, have raised thousands of pounds for charity through sponsored cycle rides, including a coast to coast in aid of the children's charity Make a Wish.

However, Dave, 59, who also cycled each day to work at Flamingo Land, said he has been left so traumatised by the accident that he fears he will never get on a bike again.

"All I remember was cycling on the roundabout when a car came up the slip road from the A64 and hit me," he said.

"I ended up on the floor with the bike on top of me and after that I slipped in and out of consciousness."

Dave was airlifted to James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough where he was put in an induced coma. His injuries included a broken hip, three broken ribs, collapsed lung and a broken elbow and collar bone.

He said: "My helmet was slit all the way down and there was a mark on my head where it had indented - if I hadn't been wearing it I wouldn't be alive.

"I was in hospital for 10 days and now have a plate in my elbow and collarbone, as well as a new hip as it would have been too big a job to repair it."

Dave, who expected to be off work for at least another month, is now having physiotherapy.

"I used to cycle at least 100 miles a week, but now I am not sleeping and getting flashbacks," he said.

"My bike hardly has a mark on it but I've had it taken away as I won't be riding it again - this had been completely life-changing for me."

Mandy, who is in remission for breast cancer, said it had been horrifying to see Dave so badly injured.

"We have been married for more than 30 years and this had been the most devastating thing to happen to us - it just didn't seem real," she said. "He has a long way to go, but he is lucky to be alive."

Mandy, who had been encouraged to take up cycling by her husband, said more needed to be done to improve safety for cyclists.

"Malton to Scarborough has a few cycling lanes but they are not well planned out and we need more," she said.

"There is also the issues of potholes which are unbelievable round here and force cyclists to swerve round them into the path of cars.

"Dave has been lucky but the next cyclist might not be - something needs to be done about safety in the area."

To sign the petition, go to change.org/p/north-yorkshire-county-council-cycle-lanes-in-and-around-malton-norton-and-pickering

Copies are also available directly from Mandy, who works at Asda, along with Yorkshire Bakers, Derwent swimming pool and Bits and Bobs in Norton, as well as Yates cycle shop, Kappa Cars, Northern Ride and the Gazette & Herald office in Malton.