AN 83-year-old woman was left lying on the cold, wet pavement for more than half an hour after a fall in Darlington town centre.

Bystanders rushed to help the stricken pensioner outside Eden Mobility shop on the corner of Tubwell Row and Prebend Row.

Staff from the the nearby YMCA shop brought blankets and cushions to keep her comfortable.

Witnesses said the woman was left waiting for almost an hour, but the North-East Ambulance Service said the 999 call was made at 12.52pm and a rapid response vehicle arrived shortly before 1.30pm.

Passers-by also offered coats, blankets and towels in the driving rain and blustery conditions to ensure she kept warm.

A local resident who stopped to help, but who asked not to be named, said: “She’s been on a cold wet floor for almost an hour because they said it wasn’t classed as a priority.”

A spokesperson for North East Ambulance Service said: “We were called to an incident in Darlington, to reports of a lady who had fallen at 12:52 on Tuesday, March 31.

"Her symptoms were assessed as not life-threatening.

"A rapid response vehicle arrived at 13:29 and the patient was transported to hospital shortly afterwards.”