A GRANDMOTHER had to be taken to hospital after breaking her elbow when she tripped over a loose paving slab.

Lynne Stares, 76, of Cutting Drive, in Halstead, was out shopping in Braintree last Tuesday when she tripped over the uneven paving slab, managed by Essex County Council, near H Samuel in Bank Street.

Mrs Stares was left with a broken elbow and bruising to her hand and knee but was helped by good Samaritans.

She said: "I was out by myself on my way to Bernard Chapman in Braintree when I tripped on a loose paving slab near H.Samuels and broke my elbow and bruised my hand.

"A girl came out of the shop and said that's happened more than once.

"A lady stopped to help, she picked me up and sat me down. She said she's willing to be a witness if I need it.

"After I got over it and dusted myself down I carried on what I was doing. I went into Tesco and did my fortnightly shopping trip but by the time I got to the check out my elbow was really hurting.

"The lady at the check out put all my shopping out for me and bagged it up.

"I found some good people."

Mrs Stares was taken to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford by her daughter, Elaine, where they gave her an x-ray and said she had a broken elbow and bruising.

She said: "My daughter took me to the hospital. We were very lucky, it was the day of the strike but it was amazing. I was in and out within an hour.

"I'm not out and about at the moment, my arm is in a sling and I'm a bit sore so my daughter is helping me out.

"I can't push a shopping trolley and take bits in and out of it, I'm a bit handicapped at the minute.

"When it's time to go back to Braintree I will avoid that bit. It's somewhere I don't want to be right now.

"I'm not keen on walking down there but I suppose I will get used to it."

Mrs Stares's daughter, Jo McIntyre, 47, of Panfield Lane, in Braintree, thinks something needs to be done to stop this happening again.

She said: "They [Essex County Council] had painted around this loose paving slab but nothing got done about it. They're not very helpful.

"Normally I would have been with her but a member of the public helped her up and left their name and number.

"Someone in the shop said it's happened before.

"Something should be done about it. She's 76 and it will take a while for her to heal up."

An Essex County Council spokesman said: “We are very sorry to hear of this woman’s injury and wish her a speedy recovery. Our inspector logged a defect in this area, and it is scheduled for repair next month.”