A shopkeeper says urgent action is needed to repair brick paving after an elderly man needed hospital treatment when he fell over in the town centre.

On Thursday, Oliver Sebastien, 28, rushed to the aid of a man in his 70s who had fallen over outside his shop Goodness Gracious in Market Street.

Oliver said: “He had tripped up and smashed his face but had tried to put his arm down and hurt that as well.

“It was right outside the shop so I helped with first aid alongside a nurse who came to help.

“He was conscious at this time but we made sure he was comfortable and put his arm in a sling.

“We sat him up and waited for the ambulance to arrive.

“This is the second elderly person recently that I’ve seen trip up on the cobbles in the town and badly injure themselves.”

Ambulance service spokesman Richard Airey said: “A paramedic attended the scene after we were called at approximately 12.40pm to reports a man had suffered a fall.

“The man, aged in his 70s, was assessed and treated at the scene for minor cuts and bruises and a suspected arm injury before being taken to Kent and Canterbury Hospital.”

Another woman was injured earlier this year when she fell through a gap in the paving and broke her kneecap.

Oliver says that the gap is still there, despite complaints to the council.

He added: “This is happening a lot more than it should be.

“They should make sure the road surface is even and safe.

“There are many spots around the town which are dangerous. I want the council to walk around the town and imagine they were an elderly or disabled person, who may not pick up their feet as well as us.

“I just hope that nobody else is injured. It could be even more serious.”

Kent County Council spokesman Thom Morris said: “We are sorry to hear of the incident that occurred last Thursday and we wish the gentleman a speedy recovery.

“One of our highway stewards will inspect this location and identify if any repair work is required.”