THE WIDOW of Holyrood councillor Wilf Clegg is celebrating a major step in her campaign for the compulsory issue of cycle helmets to postal workers after Royal Mail agreed to carry out trials.

Mrs Jeanette Clegg, of Brandram Road, Prestwich, began her nationwide campaign to change the policy regarding cycling postmen and women after her postman husband's death in May last year.

Coun Clegg, a well-respected member of the community, was cycling to work when he was in collision with a van outside the Tesco store in Bury New Road. He suffered fatal head injuries.

Mrs Clegg believes his injuries could have been lessened had he been wearing a cycle helmet.

The mother-of-three's campaign, backed by Bury South MP Ivan Lewis, was adopted by the the Communication Workers' Union and was supported by the former minister responsible for postal matters, Alan Johnson MP. It has now been revealed that research into the use of cycle helmets carried out on behalf of the CWU and Royal Mail has concluded that cycle helmet usage "would be beneficial to Royal Mail staff".

In a letter to Mrs Clegg, Douglas Alexander MP, who has taken over ministerial responsibilities for postal matters from Mr Johnson, states that "Royal Mail proposes to begin helmet trials with a view to developing a user specification" which would include comfort, acceptability, usage, storage and replacement.

Welcoming the proposals, Mrs Clegg said: "I am delighted by this news. I have felt for some time that if Royal Mail staff had been issued with cycle helmets, then it is possible that Wilf would have still been here today.

"I hope the formal trials can get under way as quickly as possible. Hopefully, the introduction of cycle helmets will prevent any other families suffering the devastation we have had to endure."

MP Mr Lewis said: "This is great news. Along with Mrs Clegg, I have been working to persuade Royal Mail and Government ministers that the use of cycle helmets would be beneficial to Royal Mail staff.

"I hope the formal trials can begin as soon as possible and that a positive outcome, which increases safety for postal workers, can be reached in the near future."