An 86-year-old grandmother is facing Christmas in hospital after falling in a car park when a car horn startled her.

Barbara Hanscomb suffered a broken hip after being alarmed by the thoughtless motorist as she loaded shopping into her car while parked in a disabled bay outside Sainsbury’s.

He twice sounded his horn because her car door was open, preventing him from pulling into the adjacent bay. She lost her balance and fell to the ground, after which he simply drove off.

Mrs Hanscomb, of Cherry Garden Road, Canterbury, was shopping with her husband, retired building society manager Derek, also 86, when the incident happened on December 13.

Other shoppers came to her aid, including an off-duty medic ,and she was taken by ambulance to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, where she remains on a ward.

Her daughter Amanda Hanscomb-Hardy, 47, who lives in Ashford and is her carer, said: “My poor mum is still lying in hospital with rods inserted in her hip, unable to move, in a huge amount of pain and unlikely to come home for Christmas.

“I’m so incensed that the actions of one thoughtless individual in such a rush has, in seconds, destroyed her Christmas and also that of her entire family.

“I hope the driver will read this and spare her a thought as they enjoy the festivities, and be more patient and considerate in the future.

“Luckily there are plenty of good people out there and mum and dad would like to thank all the lovely people who came to her aid.”

Four years ago Mrs Hanscomb endured another hospital stay after suffering a near-fatal heart attack while watching The X Factor.

Her daughter said: “Miraculously, she was resuscitated and survived thanks to the Kent Ambulance service, who invited her to a special ceremony as only about 4% of the population survive in her circumstances.

“It happened while she was watching one of her favourite programmes, The X-Factor, and she never got to see the final. Ironically, because of this, she missed the final again this time.”

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