EMERGENCY services had to break into a Newton Abbot property to treat an elderly woman who had fallen over.

Firefighters from the town were called to force the front door which was locked from the inside.

The alarm was raised just after 11am today by the woman’s family who could not get into the home in Oakland Road on the Buckland estate.

Police and paramedics in a rapid response car were called initially – but they could not gain entry.

They then alerted the fire service which used small tools to ‘pop’ the door open.

The 89-year-old casualty had taken a tumble in the kitchen and could not get to the door to unlock it. She was duly treated by paramedics.

A fire spokesman said afterwards: ‘She was a bit fragile and could not get back on her feet, but she was okay.’