A WOMAN who needed to spend a night in hospital after tripping over a pothole has urged authorities to sort the widespread problem out.

Nesta Long, 80, of Horspath, was posting a leaflet to a neighbour’s house in Manor Farm Road when the accident happened.

She said: “I use a walker to help me get around, and after I had delivered the leaflet I dropped the walker down from the pavement to the road, but I went to push it forward it wouldn’t go – it stuck in this enormous hole in the ground.

“I pushed it and it threw me over the top and I slammed into the road.”

Some passing good Samaritans rushed to her aid and called for an ambulance, and she ended up spending the night in hospital.

Luckily, she broke no bones and although her injuries looked severe, she only suffered a gash to her forehead and a cut on her hand.

The incident happened on December 28 but she said she is still recovering.

As soon as she was able, she wrote a letter to Horspath Parish Council, including graphic photographs of her injuries, appealing for action to fix the village’s potholes.

She said: “I didn’t want to sue anybody but I wanted to tell the council the appalling conditions of our roads and pavements.”

The parish council passed the information to county councillor for the area Anne Purse, who has already gone out with a council officer to flag up that and other potholes for repair as soon as possible.