Cycle crash victims are demanding action to make an accident hotspot safer after it was revealed that 18 cyclists were injured between 2015 and 2017.

Two men who suffered life-altering injuries after being hit by cars on Vastern Road roundabout last year have spoken about how the impact it has had on their lives.

Just last month, a motorist suffered serious injuries and was left needing hospital treatment after another incident at the roundabout.

Reading Borough Council (RBC) is currently working with its contractor on a timetable to implement a road safety scheme which involves re-lining lanes on the roundabout.

Julian Wigmore was injured at the roundabout in January 2018 when an SUV vehicle pulled out in front of him, catapulting the 66-year-old, also from Caversham, onto the bonnet of the car.

He fractured three vertebrae and the injuries have left the bid manager two inches shorter and, despite rehabilitation, he continues to suffer pain a year later and is still unable to ride his bike on the road due to anxiety.

Mr Wigmore said: “All I was doing was cycling home and the next minute, my life had been turned upside down.

“A year on, I’m still in pain and still can’t do the things I could do before. Enough is enough. There have to be changes at this roundabout to stop anyone else being injured.

“One accident is too many but there have been a series of incidents there. Someone else will be seriously injured if action isn’t taken immediately.”

Casualty statistics at the junction have steadily increased over the past few years with a growing number of cyclists being hurt.

Adam Adrian, 19, from Caversham, had already safely negotiated most of the roundabout in busy traffic as he tried to turn right over Reading Bridge but was knocked off his bike and onto the road after being hit by a car.

He suffered a fracture to his spine and injuries to his wrist and knee.

Doctors have since given Adam the devastating news that his spinal fracture will never heal fully.

The former Highdown Secondary School student had been pursuing an acting career, with a place secured on a course at Chichester University, but has been restricted in any roles he can take since the accident due to the continued pain he suffers when moving.

His wrist injuries have also restricted his role in rock band Before The Breakdown.

Mr Adrian said: “The accident itself was horrific and it still affects me now, but the biggest frustration is not being able to just get on with my life.

“My acting ambitions and my music have all been affected by something which wasn’t my fault.

“However, when you then find out that you’re not the only person who has been injured at this roundabout, it’s even more frustrating, especially when you see more accidents like the recent one.

“I don’t want to see anyone else go through what I have gone through.”

Serious injury solicitor Laura Magson, from Boyes Turner, said the latest incident at Vastern Road showed things were not improving and that it was time that action was taken by the council.

She said: “Adam and Julian’s stories are just two examples of people being injured at this same spot and questions have to be asked as to how many more people will have to suffer injuries or worse before something is done.

“We now want to see the authorities carry out an urgent review and make sure no-one else suffers what our clients have suffered. Safety has to come first.”

Total casualties on the roundabout have risen from 14 from 2012 to 2014 to 26 in the following three years, while cyclist casualties have trebled in the same period.

RBC has identified the cause of the issue as ‘significant lane changing’ from vehicles while on the roundabout.

The council will re-line the roundabout so that it is clearer which lanes go in which direction, removing the need for lane changes within the roundabout.

This alteration is expected to reduce motor vehicle/pedal cycle collisions and resultant casualties.

Adrian Lawson, of Reading Cycle Campaign, said lane-changing is a factor but the speed drivers come on to the roundabout is a bigger issue.

The council has acknowledged that further improvement may be needed once the re-lining is complete.

Continental style markings were also considered but are not approved for highway use by the Department for Transport, so the council has prioritised re-lining at this stage.