A woman is furious she was left waiting in agony for an ambulance for almost an hour after falling and breaking her ankle in three places.

Julia Tyrell was on her way home from the shops earlier this month when she slipped off a kerb in Queens Road, Braintree, and fell to the ground, landing heavily on her ankle.

A passer-by called an ambulance at 12.34pm but, despite a number of follow up calls, it wasn’t until 1.28pm that one finally arrived.

Ms Tyrell was taken to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, where she spent ten days.

The 57-year-old had to have pins and a plate put in her foot and is now recovering at home in Kings Road, Braintree.

An East of England Ambulance Service spokesman apologised for the delay, which was caused because the original ambulance was diverted to someone with chest pains.

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