A fractured ankle has curtailed Ann Widdecombe’s Christmas charity work.

The MP for Maidstone and the Weald (Con) sustained the injury at a charity function in London.

She was being presented with a bouquet of flowers when she fell down some steps.

She fractured her ankle in two places and is now wearing a plaster cast.

The injury means the MP will not be able to do her Christmas Day visits to patients at Maidstone Hospital, a homeless day centre and organisations such as Kent Fire and Rescue Service, something she has done every Christmas Day for the last 20 years.

Miss Widdecombe’s senior case worker, Edward Winstanley, said: "Ann will be carrying on as normal and most functions before Christmas Day will go ahead.

"The Christmas Day rounds are affected as they involve a lot of walking around.

"I am driving Ann to most of her functions as she obviously cannot drive herself.

"We won’t be cancelling any events, but it is possible we may have to postpone some until the injury heals"

Miss Widdecombe’s constituency surgeries will carry on as normal.

Her cast is due to be removed at the end of January.