Family's fury as injured Bessie, 94, from Canvey, is forced to wait more than two hours for an ambulance

Bessie Bannister, of Linden Way, Canvey, stumbled and fell in her garden as she was enjoying the sunshine on Thursday afternoon.

Neighbours frantically called for an ambulance as Mrs Bannister was left laying on concrete unable to move.

She had fractured both her pelvis and thigh bone.

It took more than two-and-a-half hours for paramedics to arrive.

Her son John Bannister, 66, from Lincoln, hit out at the lengthy wait.

He said: “You expect a little wait, maybe even half an hour, but nearly three hours is absolutely ridiculous.

“She’s 94 years of age and was left waiting on concrete with broken bones, it’s disgusting really and thankfully her neighbours were there to help.

“If it was raining I have no idea would have happened, I don’t see why it would take so long. I could almost reach Canvey from Lincoln in the time it took for her to get to hospital.”

Mrs Bannister’s daughter Liz, who lives in London, said the family were told the ambulance service had to prioritise calls due to an increase in demand.

The 66-year-old added: “I got the call from her neighbours about ten minutes after she fell, and I expected an ambulance to be on its way.

“We were told that the delay was because of the weather and the fact her condition wasn’t life threatening.

“I still think it’s not good enough, she was left on concrete for hours and because of her injuries, she couldn’t be moved.”

Mrs Bannister fell about midday.

Her family claim she was not taken to Southend Hospital until about 3.30pm, after initial treatment was carried out by paramedics at her home.

She was due to undergo surgery on Friday.