A PENSIONER who lay helpless in the street for up to three hours on a cold night after breaking his hip has praised a taxi driver who found him and took him to hospital.

Tom Mason, who had been celebrating his 91st birthday with a friend earlier in the evening, was spotted by Ralph Lowden.

Mr Mason of Lanchester, County Durham, said while recovering in Chester-le-Street Community Hospital: "I can't thank him enough. If it was not for him, I may not have been here."

Mr Mason said he had been to the pub for a pint with friend, who walked him home where they talked until midnight.

He said: "After he had gone I realised he had left a parcel behind.

"I knew he wouldn't be able to collect it in the morning, so I thought I would take it to his house.

"When I got there, it was all dark. I was walking along to get to the back of the house to see if there was a light on when I tripped on an uneven surface.

"I knew something serious had happened and was in terrible pain."

Unable to draw attention from the house, Mr Mason took an hour to crawl and shuffle to the pavement outside where he tried to flag down passing cars. But they failed to see him because of parked cars blocking the view from the road.

Mr Lowden, of Neasham Taxis, based at Consett, said: "I had just dropped off a fare at about 3am and was pulling away when I noticed Mr Mason in my wing mirror. He had his arm in the air.

"He was lying on the floor without a jacket and could not move.

"I was worried that he may have got hyperthermia. As I lifted him into the taxi he screamed in pain."

Mr Lowden took Mr Mason to the University Hospital of North Durham, where he underwent emergency surgery.

Daughter-in-law Marge Mason, who sent a card and token amount of cash to Mr Lowden, said: "It was a completely selfless act. He was very genuine. It is good to know there are still people about who are willing to help others."