HELSTON town councillors who were alarmed to hear that a woman had been knocked to the ground by a mountain bike rider in Coronation Park are likely to welcome an announcement yesterday that a warden is about to be appointed - just days after they called for one.

The woman, who has asked not to be identified, had been crossing the new entertainments area of the park when the accident occurred.

She received injuries to her foot and wrist. The matter has been reported to the police and Kerrier district council, which runs the park.

Town clerk Chris Dawson told members of Helston town council about the incident at their last meeting, describing the event as "quite worrying."

Councillor Keith Reynolds said: "This is extremely serious and extremely worrying. I would like to put pressure on the council to get a warden down there as soon as possible."

Councillor Nick Martin said that he had received a number of complaints from residents over the way that the park was being treated. Mr Martin said: "I've been approached by several people of Helston who are disgusted with the way that the new facilities are being abused, not just by cyclists but by people letting dogs run free. With all due respect, the people of Helston want something done about it. It's just been left to go. We need action and Helston wishes to see action."

The incident comes just days after town warden Glenn Manning warned in his monthly report to the council that such a thing could happen. In his report, Mr Manning wrote: "Dogs are being regularly walked off leads and youths on mountain bikes are riding over the flower beds/grassed areas, also using the skate park facility to the detriment of health and safety to younger children. Skateboarders are also using the new surface, the stones of which are becoming damaged."

He urged members to put pressure on Kerrier district council to employ a park keeper to look after the facilities.

Andy Mead, direct services manager for Kerrier district council, told the Packet yesterday that interviews were due to take place for the post of park keeper today (Wednesday).

He added that the keeper should be in place within a maximum of three weeks, although it could be sooner if one of the internal applicants was offered the job.

Mr Mead said that, in addition to picking up litter and looking after the grass and flowerbeds, one of the main roles of the keeper would be to talk to members of the public, and in particular youngsters, to encourage them to look after the park themselves.

The keeper is due to be on site between Wednesday and Sunday, with Monday and Tuesday covered by members of another service from Kerrier council.