AN ELDERLY Dawlish woman is in hospital with serious injuries after falling while using a mobility walker.

The 89-year-old was attempting to manoeuvre her walker past a van which was parked across the pavement.

As she tried to get past, she struggled and ended up falling in the road.

She was taken to hospital following the accident which happened on Saturday afternoon.

Her granddaughter has since appealed for more considerate parking and to be aware of obstructing pavements and pathways.

She said: ‘Please, please can more care and consideration be taken in and around our town for vulnerable people who don't find it as easy to step on and off the pavement to get past obstructions, which in all honesty should be parked on the road.

‘An elderly woman was lying in the road in ridiculous amounts of pain because she wasn't able to move around the obstruction on the pathway.

‘Please just take a little more care and have a thought for the vulnerable members of our community.’

The pensioner is now in hospital but sustained a serious arm fracture and other injuries.

She has two breaks in the top of her arm and shoulder and an injury to her hip.

The accident has sparked further debate about parking on pavements.

Dawlish has many small, narrow streets and suffers from a lack of on street parking.

One resident said: ‘Parking on the pavements is the norm for Dawlish, unfortunately.’

Another added: ‘It is so difficult for any pedestrian.

‘We all know there’s exceptional circumstances but on the whole avoid pavements and loading bays if there’s an alternative

‘Pavements are for people, not vans or cars or bikes.’