Former Bradford on Avon mayor Peter Leach is recovering from a broken leg caused by a piece of coal that hit him when he was trainspotting.

Mr Leach, 50, who was mayor for the three years up to 2012, was standing on platform one, watching two steam trains coming through Bradford on Avon station, when the accident happened.

The 17.09 West Coast Railways service was travelling towards Bath, with the eight carriages being pulled by a diesel loco.

Mr Leach said: “Because it was not in proper full steam, the coal stayed overloaded. As the train came out of the tunnel there is a dip in the track.”

A piece of coal came off the tender and struck Mr Leach’s leg, breaking his tibia.

Mr Leach said: “Not many people would consider trainspotting dangerous. I should have bought a lottery ticket with that sort of odds.

“If it had hit a child, or my head, we would be talking about a very serious accident or a death. “Even the surgeon could not believe the odds of it.”

Mr Leach was taken to Bath’s Royal United Hospital by ambulance and had a 345mm pin inserted down the full length of the bone.

After being released from hospital two days later, he said: “The pain was excruciating, but the hospital was fantastic.

“I am in considerable pain, but I am relatively mobile considering. I have to be careful not to overdo it.”

Mr Leach reported the accident to British Transport Police.

He said: “I want to make sure it has been reported and goes through procedure. I don’t want another accident to cause a fatality.”

A British Transport Police spokesman said: “Following an investigation, officers have concluded this incident is a civil matter between the injured party and the rail industry.” Network Rail said they would be carrying out a track investigation.

Mr Leach added: “It is great to see them (the trains) and what we are doing is preserving history. I don’t want to see it stopped.”