The friend of an elderly woman who was left with black eyes and stitches after a fall in Deal’s Middle Street is calling for improvements to be made to the pavement.

The 89-year-old tripped in the conservation area, not far from her home, last Monday.

The woman has asked the Mercury not to name her, but she has given her consent for us to use a photograph showing her injuries.

She was helped by a postman and was taken to hospital where she received stitches for a laceration above her eyebrow.

Her friend Maria Hannibal, who also lives in the conservation area, said: “I think it is absolutely appalling.

“The pavements are so uneven. I think it needs to be brought to people’s attention and something needs to be done.

“It’s so easy to trip. If that had been a pregnant lady there would have been serious consequences. It was bad enough for an elderly person.

“Deal is a very caring place and the postman was so helpful. But these sort of things should not be happening here.”

She added: “The lady is happy for Mercury readers to see the photo of her injuries as a warning. But she is elderly and she does not want her name and address to be published.”

A Kent County Council spokesman said: “We are very sorry to hear what has happened.

“We will send out a highway steward to look at Middle Street and assess whether any work is required.”