The Mayor of Islington has resumed his duties after recovering from a head injury he suffered seven weeks ago.

Councillor Richard Greening spent five weeks at the Royal London Hospital, in White­chapel, after blacking out and striking his head on the pavement in Blackstock R­oad on December 7.

Cllr Greening, 58, who suffers from diabetes, said: “What I think happened is that the diabetes kicked in suddenly. It’s called a hypoglycemic attack [when blood sugar falls below normal levels]. What happens is that you sort of faint and fall, without your hands supporting you, and I bashed my head quite hard.”

The Highbury West councillor had gone out to buy a cauliflower when he blacked out. He received treatment from paramedics at the scene and was taken to Whitechapel Hospital.

He said: “I quite clearly had quite a serious head injury. I was not properly conscious for the first few days and I was definitely very ill the first two weeks.

“It’s not been perfect timing. The staff have been very good though. There are some brilliant nurses here. The doctors say the fall has caused some brain damage, but I have yet to see the detail.”

Cllr Greening, formerly the Town Hall finance chief and deputy leader, has had hypoglycemic attacks in the past, but never with such serious consequences. He has vowed to monitor his sugar levels more regularly.

“I take insulin which allows me to control my sugar levels and means I am able to have a normal life,” he said. “The issue is that if you’re not careful you can take too much.”

He added: “My New Year resolution is to make sure I regularly test my blood-sugar levels. I need to be careful because this is an experience that I do not wish to be repeated.”

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  MAYORS, COUNCILLORS
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  Richard Greening