Good samaritans stopped to help a 81-year-old woman who had collapsed in the street and was left waiting for 40 minutes for an ambulance.

Bystanders came to the aid of the woman who fell in South Street, Romford last Friday at around 12.36pm.

The woman, who has not been named, was doing her shopping in Romford when she tripped between Barclays Bank and Primark.

Within minutes she was surrounded by concerned passers-by who had stopped to help.

Lorraine Moss, who was on her lunch break at the time, ran into the Primark store for a blanket to keep the woman warm, while another resident bought a hot drink for the woman from Greggs.

Two police officers also stepped in to help.

Lorraine said: “It was really touching that so many people had stopped to help.

“It was really cold on Friday and a lot of us were just wondering why it was taking them so long.”

Despite frantic phone calls from members of the public, the paramedics arrived at the scene at 1.12pm, 40 minutes after the woman had fallen.

A spokesman for London Ambulance said: “We are sorry that we were not able to send an ambulance more quickly.

“A crew was dispatched earlier but was diverted to another patient in a more serious condition.

“The patient, an 81-year-old woman, was conscious and breathing and complained of pain in her arm. She was taken to Queen’s Hospital.”