AN elderly woman from Chard was left with a broken hip on Thursday after bad parking led to her mobility scooter toppling off a pavement.

Joan Somerville, 87, was trying to cross the road in Clarkes Close, off East Street, when her access to the dropped kerb was blocked by a parked vehicle.

As there was no other accessible kerb she was forced to manoeuvre her scooter down the raised pavement, but as she did so the scooter tipped over.

Joan's daughter, Lynette Tillotson, was called to the scene by passers-by.

She told the News: "She's lucky she didn't fall the other way and into the traffic on East Street.

"While we were there another three people came on mobility scooters - one woman had to do a long circuit around, another just turned back and we all helped lift one man off the pavement."

Joan was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton for an operation on her hip and is expected to be brought back to Chard Hospital to recover.

Lynette said: "Because of my mother's age this has really knocked her for six.

"There were two men and two women who stayed with my mother after the fall, and I'd like to thank them for looking after her and making sure she was OK until I arrived."

Sheila Russell, of Chard, arrived in Clarkes Close just after the accident and said the issue of blocked kerbs is a hassle to many people in the town.

She said: "My husband is in a mobility buggy and had to be lifted down from the kerb after the lady's accident.

"It's quite often that dropped kerbs are blocked in the town, and when they are we're totally stuck.

"On several occasions my husband has had to reverse out of the road on to East Street, which is always busy.

"This proves how dangerous it can be,and what happens when there isn't proper access."

Dave Bulmer, Chard town councillor for Jocelyn ward, said: "I shall be contacting the Area West community safety group. It's obviously a very serious matter."

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said: "Obstructing a dropped kerb or driveway is an offence punishable with an £80 fine or a prison sentence.

"If anyone sees a vehicle blocking a dropped kerb or driveway they are advised to call the non-emergency police number on 0845-4767000."