I would like to thank everyone who helped my family on August 9 when my seven-year-old son had a collision with a cyclist in the cycle lane next to Brighton Pier.

They include the ambulance men Alan and James and the paediatric team at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Jason and Ellen.

I should also thank the crowd who surrounded us at the time of the incident to give their support, especially the lady who rang the emergency services and relayed the first aid information.

The accident happened because my son had been reading the bus timetable and did not check the cycle lane properly before crossing, despite our frantic shouts.

I do wonder at the sense of having a cycle lane in an area which is so busy with pedestrians.

Wouldn't it be safer if the cycle lane was stopped before the pier and continued a short distance past it?

I apologised to the cyclist, who fell off on impact, but wish to take this opportunity to say sorry again.

I hope she was not injured too badly.

-Mrs L Johnson, Portslade