A pensioner was left with blood pouring down his face and a black eye after being struck by a coil spring that he said flew off a passing vehicle.
Allan Robinson, of High Heaton, Newcastle was standing at the traffic lights next to the Corner House pub to cross the Coast Road when he said the incident happened.
Initially unaware of what had caused the injuries, the 74-year-old went back to discover the coil lying on the road.
He said: "I was standing at the lights and all of a sudden there was a bang on the side of my head.
"I didn't see anything and there was someone beside me and I said 'Did you see anything? They said no.
"The next minute blood was pouring down my face. I couldn't see what had happened.
"I got across the road and some other pedestrians saw a police car parked at the traffic lights and called him over.
"He came across and had a look at it as well. They were wondering whether I should go to hospital or not."
As he lived nearby, Allan decided to go home but an hour later blood was still pouring from the wound and decided to go to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary for treatment.
"It was just a fraction from both eyes," he said. "It was really dangerous. I was really quite frightened. I had a black eye and swelling which has gone down now."
The retired transport manager is now warning people to remain vigilant when they are walking on the road after he found more than a dozen springs on the route.
He said: "There were about 15 pieces of small round metal that were the suspension coil spring from a vehicle.
"It is quite a lot for a small stretch of road. It is very dangerous for pedestrians. I just want them to be aware."
