An 81-year-old woman faces a long road to recovery after seriously injuring herself falling on uneven pavement on Dunmow High Street.

Brenda Scraggs, of Rosemary Close, Great Dunmow, tripped over the paving outside Lloyds TSB Bank on July 9, and required two major operations on her wrist and elbow.

Mrs Scraggs had previously fallen at the very same spot in January last year, and says that the uneven pavement has caused problems for many elderly people in the town.

She said: “After the first incident, I had always been very careful around that area and stayed close to the side of the path. But a young mother was pushing a pram so I moved onto the dangerous section and down I went.

“I’m not the only one, I know that there have been various degrees of falls at this spot and I have seen people trip and fall there myself.”

Mrs Scraggs said that after her first fall outside the bank last year, she had gone into the Great Dunmow Town Council office to report the uneven pavement, and was informed that the matter would be passed on to the Essex County Council highways department.

“I’m angry, having gone to see the council, that nothing has been done. It’s not good enough when people are getting hurt, it is a serious matter.

“I’m having real problems getting around now and the doctor said I may require another operation in two to three months time. I don’t think I’ll ever regain full movement in my elbow, which will really make my life difficult as I’m right-handed.

“I can’t thank the people who helped me at the scene enough, they must have been there for over an hour looking after me. They were very kind.”

Friend Sue Gilbert said: “I recently stood as a candidate for Residents for Uttlesford, and one of the things I was told during my canvassing was that at least four other people had tripped, fallen and been badly injured in the same spot.

“Given her age, I would have thought this was something that the council could have helped her with more fully.”

An Essex County Council highways spokesperson said: “We are sorry to hear about the injury. Officers have investigated the pavement defect on Great Dunmow High Street and currently it doesn’t meet our criteria to be repaired. However, we will continue to monitor it for any deterioration as part of our routine inspection programme.”

Do you think the pavement outside Lloyds TSB in Dunmow High Street needs attention? Send your views to editor@dunmow-broadcast.co.uk.