Georgette Van Den Bossche and her husband Jozef Uyttersprot, both in their 70s, were setting out to cycle along the Dender river in August last year, when Van Den Bossche skidded on cobblestones and fell, striking her head on the ground. She lost consciousness and, bleeding heavily, was taken to hospital.

She sustained two fractured fingers as well as cuts and bruises and remained in hospital for eight days.

During that time, the Aalst fire brigade turned up to clean up the roadway, a job taking an estimated 20 minutes. Last week, Georgette received a bill from Ethias, the municipal insurer, for €250.

“They’re making a mountain out of a molehill,” Uyttersprot said. “If they’d told me the road needed to be cleaned, I’d have taken my handkerchief and mopped up the blood. They know nothing of humanity or feelings; everything comes down to procedure.”

The couple are considering taking legal advice to fight the payment order. “But then, on the other hand, I think I might as well pay,” says Uyttersprot. “Then we can put it behind us.”