The owner of a Cumbria-themed deli broke his pelvis and several ribs in a motorbike accident close to his New York shop when he popped out for some spices for the Thanksgiving stuffing.

Grandfather Peter Myers, 72, has driven motorbikes in New York since he moved there from Keswick 30 years ago.

As well as driving around in one of the busiest cities in the world, he has also made two trips from New York to the Copper Canyon in Mexico – a distance of more than 2,400 miles – all without one accident.

But his long streak of good fortune came to an abrupt end when a Chevrolet Suburban knocked him off his bike.

Peter said: “Out of the blue a car ran into me - crash, bang, wallop. I have no idea where he came from. I flew over the windscreen I think breaking some ribs.

“I just found myself lying on the floor on the road in the middle of 8th Avenue. Since then it's been more or less hell.”

New Yorkers rushed to help him and one called his daughter, Jenny Pulidore, 38, who was in Myers of Keswick less than 100 yards away.

Jenny and her husband Paul ran to see Peter and arrived at about the same time as the ambulance arrived.

Jenny said: “My dad being my dad, he tried to stand up and I think he realised he was in a bit of pain.”

Peter was in intensive care for a week. He cracked his pelvis and broke six ribs and had a couple of operations and some pins put in his cracked pelvis.

He was discharged after two weeks in hospital and is now staying with Jenny and Paul in their apartment in lower Manhattan – though he said he'd rather be looking at Skiddaw or Derwentwater.

“I feel as if I'm getting better with the passing of every 24 hours,” he said. “I'm recovering quite well but it's been a harrowing couple of weeks. It would happen at the worst time of year.”

She thanked everyone who had been in touch from Cumbria, wishing Peter a speedy recovery.

She said: “Luckily my dad's kept such a positive attitude. When my cousin posted on Facebook about it, the amount of people that wrote comments and well wishes – my dad was so overwhelmed and touched by all the love.

“It shouldn't take something like this but when something like this happens, you realise how many people care about you. It's quite overpowering.”