GOOD Samaritans who stopped to help an elderly woman who had fallen over in a town centre have been thanked by police officers.

The 91-year-old was with her friend, in Church Street, Consett, when she fell and hit her head as they walked along just before 6pm, on Tuesday evening.

The woman was yards from her home on West Victoria Street and had been on a bus tour to Scarborough when the incident happened, near the Your Move estate agents.

As she lay on the ground, a number of people rushed to her aid, covering her in blankets and coats to keep her warm.

PC Lauren Howe, from Consett Police, came across the incident on her way back to the police station.

She said: “There was very heavy blood loss and she was lying on a wet surface on a busy road. “However, it was lovely to see that at least five members of the public had stopped to help and support her.

“As well as all the coats and blankets which passers-by had given her to keep warm, another gentleman got bandages out of a first aid kit which he had in the boot of his car.

“As I administered the bandage, a passing off-duty nurse also stopped and offered medical attention until the ambulance arrived.”

Paramedics took the lady the University Hospital of North Durham with a suspected broken nose.

PC Howe added: “While it was a terrible incident for the elderly lady, it was so heart-warming to see members of the public pulling together to care for her.

“I just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who stopped and offered their help and assistance.”