On Thursday last week, I was in Woodstock Road, Oxford, returning home having just visited Summertown shops.

Just enough time to get home, get to the car and pick my daughters up from school -- or so I thought.

What happened next was unclear, but I do remember waking up on the pavement, covered in blood and being bundled into an ambulance.

The ambulance crew, and the doctors and nurses at the A&E department at the John Radcliffe Hospital were all marvellous.

Later that evening, when my husband came to collect me, I suddenly remembered that one of the ambulance crews had mentioned a member of staff from the Lemon Tree. I asked my husband if I could stop and thank that person.

Unfortunately, that person was no longer there at the time.

However, I asked for my thanks to be passed on.

At which point, it materialised that there were several people out there at the time I collapsed.

To all of you who stayed with me while I was unconscious, and who didn't just walk on by, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. That was the best Christmas present I could have had. CARLA BRAMBLE, Woodstock Road, Oxford