FORMER Mayor of Worcester Jabba Riaz has praised the emergency services after he was injured when he fell off his bicycle.

The city councillor came off his bike when the gear jammed while he was going downhill in Callow End at around 8.45am on Wednesday.

His left arm took the main impact of the fall but his head also hit the road and he said he could have been seriously hurt if he wasn't wearing a helmet.

Cllr Riaz said a member of the public ran to help him and, fortunately, a police car was passing and stopped to assist. An ambulance was called and he was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital and released later the same day.

He said: "I came away with bruising to the head, arms, ribs and knee."

Cllr Riaz praised the police, ambulance service and nurses and doctors who helped him.

He also urged people to join in with Clap For Our Carers at 8pm each Thursday.