Appeal for witnesses

Popular local musician/sound engineer Tom Szakaly is appealing for witnesses to a road traffic collision he was involved in on 9 June around 2.00pm.

The incident occurred at the junction of Railway Street and Wood Street near the traffic lights at Milnrow Road.

Mr Szakaly was riding his motorbike when he says he was hit side on by a Rochdale Boroughwide Housing van. Mr Szakaly sustained serious injuries to one of his feet, every bone bar one was broken, and during a two week hospital stay had to have an operation to piece his foot back together with a plate and pins.

Mr Szakaly remembers a number of people being present and one woman in particular, who he would also like to thank, pulled him out of the road.

Mr Szakaly's motorbike has damage to the side and the RBH van had front end damage and required a new front bumper, new number plate and new front windscreen, according to RBH, who at first refused to reveal the damage sustained by their van but acquiesced in the face of a Freedom of Information request.

Self-employed sound engineer Mr Szakaly, who regularly works on Emmerdale and Coronation Street, is unable to work and hence suffering significant loss of income, and is asking anyone who witnessed the incident to please contact him and he can pass their details on to the police investigation team.

• tom@noddyspuncture.co.uk

Mr Szakaly is the keyboard player in ELP (Emerson, Lake and Palmer) tribute band Noddy's Puncture, and on first name terms with Keith Emerson. Mr Emerson sent Mr Szakaly a 'History of the Beano' hardback book with the following message on whilst he was hospitalised:

Dear Tom,

In future, do as Noddy does, drive on four wheels ... or as Tonto did, ride on four legs!"

Get well soon.

Lotsaluv

Keith Emerson