A WOMAN who fell eight feet down steps into a pub cellar has died despite being flown swiftly to hospital by air ambulance.

Gladys Lambert suffered multiple injuries in the fall on Monday morning at the Fountain Pub in Station Street, Sittingbourne.

Town centre traffic was brought to a standstill when police kept crowds of onlookers away as Kent Air Ambulance made a dramatic landing on the roundabout outside Sittingbourne train station.

Mrs Lambert had been visiting her daughter Sue Nanson, who runs the pub with husband Stephen.

A Kent Ambulance response unit went to the pub and called Kent Air Ambulance which circled overhead until the police arrived to block off link roads to the roundabout.

She was treated at the scene by paramedics before she was flown to Medway Maritime Hospital just before mid-day. The air ambulance reached the hospital in five minutes but Mrs Lambert later died.

At the time, Lee Smith, Kent Ambulance clinical delivery manager for Swale, praised the speed of work of the emergency services.

"This was very good work between the police, the land crew and the air crew - very quick and I am proud of them."

An inquest is expected to be opened and adjourned on Friday.