A top cyclist has spoken about her ordeal at the hands of a gunman.

Louise Schuller, 42, was shot in her left leg while standing with her bicycle in Bloxhall Road, Leyton, last week.

Miss Schuller, who is ranked 13th in the UK, now faces a lengthy recovery period.

Speaking from her hospital bed, Miss Schuller said she wanted to put the record straight: "I am not associated with guns or drugs or anything to do with that kind of world. This is why I am willing to talk about my experience. I was coming home from work on my bike. I got off and went up to my front door. I had my Walkman on but I still heard a loud bang. The next thing I knew I was lying on the ground. I saw smoke coming from my leg, and I smelt gunpowder. I didn't see anyone as I was shot from behind. I knew something really bad had happened to me. I started shouting and screaming. People thought I had fallen off my bike but I realised I had been shot. It was a real bolt from the blue. One minute I was coming home from work, the next I know I am lying on the ground."

She said doctors expected her to make a full recovery but it would still be several weeks before her wound healed.

"Today Tuesday is the first day I have been able to hobble around," she said. "I am finding it very frustrating not being able to cycle.

"I was at a point where I was in training to start racing on my bike again.

"I have always been into sport, and my fitness will help me to recover. I feel safe as I know the police are doing everything they can, considering what I can tell them."

Miss Schuller now faces a second operation to close the wound, and an intensive course of physiotherapy. "There are still pellets in my leg.

"The doctors said it would cause more damage to my muscles if they removed all the pellets," she said.

Miss Schuller, who is chief web designer for the London School of Economics, said her ordeal has given her the "final push" she needed to make the decision to move out of Waltham Forest.

Police are still urging members of the public to come forward with information on the attack on Tuesday, January 21, just before 6.20pm.

Det Con Sean Lee, one of the chief investigating officers, said: "We are keen to speak to the driver of a dark transit van, which had white writing on the rear quarter of the cab, and an advertisement written across the bonnet.

"This van was seen driving behind the victim and pulled up about 20 yards away.

"He may have seen something and we would ask him to come forward, as he could be a significant witness."

Anyone with information is asked to contact the S07 Shootings Team on 020 8217 7350, or if you wish to remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

January 30, 2003 13:00