A MILKMAN has been praised by police for helping a woman in distress in the middle of the night.

Paul Luke, owner of Ecofresh Dairy which covers Basildon and Thurrock, aided a woman outside with injuries to her face who was outside at 1am in the morning.

The 43-year-old found the woman in Coburg Road, Langdon Hills, near a bush in the road.

The woman is believed to be aged in her 40s.

Mr Luke said: “I found a lady at around 12.30am, holding onto a bush who looked a little confused and was outside on her own and freezing cold.

“She had a large bruise to the face, so I asked if she was ok.

“It all seemed a little strange with her responses as she said she had been out but could hardly walk.

“I phoned an ambulance and once established where she lived managed to get her up the stairs to her flat and get her in the warm and make her a cup of tea.

“It looked like she had been broken into and she said her bruising was from walking into the door.”

Mr Luke added: “I called the police as well to make sure she was looked after from all angles.

“When I found her, the lady wasn’t moving and was very uneasy on her legs. I’m sure she would have had another fall or perhaps even worse if she had been left.”

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “We were called to concerns for a woman’s safety in Coburg Lane, in Langdon Hills, shortly after 1.20am on Friday.

“The report also stated a break-in may have taken place but our enquiries established this was not the case.

“We would like to thank the well-meaning member of the public for calling us.”