Berwick’s speedway Bandits are off on a three-track city break this weekend, visiting Plymouth (Friday), Newport (Saturday) and finally travelling to Rye House, near London on Sunday – but the border club will travel south without star man Sebastian Alden!

“Seb was working yesterday at home in Sweden, where he is busy renovating an old house.” reported Berwick team boss Ian Rae last night.

“He stamped on an old floor board to break it – but the board was tougher than Seb, and instead of snapping the board he broke his toe!

“His foot is all swollen and he can’t even get a shoe on it, so racing this weekend has to be out of the question, although he is hoping it will have improved enough for him to come over for our final home meeting of the year, here against Newport, which will take place before the end of the month.”

Rae has moved quickly to sign up Scunthorpe’s experienced skipper David Howe as a guest rider to take Alden’s place in all three away matches over the weekend.