A MUSSELBURGH councillor is hoping to be back in action in a couple of weeks after suffering a bad back injury when he fell down a flight of stairs at this home.

John Caldwell, the independent member for Musselburgh East and Carberry on East Lothian Council, sustained a crushed vertebrae and smashed vertebrae.

“Maybe it was the soles of my shoes but I turned and fell the whole length of the stairs backwards,” he said.

Mr Caldwell, who is Honorary Provost for this year’s Riding of the Marches, added: “I have never suffered pain like this.”

He was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary by car with the help of his wife Ruby.

Mr Caldwell came out of hospital the next day and is now recovering at home, with the aid of painkillers.

He said: “There is nothing they can do about the crushed vertebrae, which can cause pain for the rest of your life.

"The fracture will take time to heal. But I am getting better each day and have started to move about. The doctors have told me to be as active as possible.

"I am hoping to be back in action and back at the council in the next two weeks.”

He has been delighted at the support from fellow councillors, who have sent him ‘get well’ cards.

Ludovic Broun-Lindsay, Provost of East Lothian, said: “We all wish John a speedy and complete recovery.”

Members of Musselburgh & Inveresk Community Council were also sorry to hear of Mr Caldwell’s accident, which was relayed to them by a concerned Councillor John McNeil, Labour member for Musselburgh West, at their meeting on Tuesday evening.