An elderly woman who tripped and landed face-first on the pavement in Romford High Street is searching for the good samaritans who rushed to her aid in order to thank them for their kindness.

A small chink in the pavement sent Rita Hill, 82, crashing to the gorund on Thursday of last week, and when she hit the floor there was so much blood she could “hardly see”.

“It really wasn’t very fun,” said the stoic octogenarian. “I just felt my foot catch and I knew I was going. I couldn’t stop.”

Mrs Hill broke her nose and badly bruised her knee in the horror fall.

“My nose was split open,” she said. “I pulled out my little bag of hankies, but they weren’t doing anything.

“I’d just like to say I’m very grateful for [those who helped]. They were very kind and stayed right until the ambulance arrived. One lady was on her way to the Salvation Army and she refused to go until the ambulance took me.

“I told her I was all right but she waited to make sure I was ok. The lady was so kind, she put put tissues in my face and spoke gently to me.

“Other people came out from the nearby shops with a chair so I could sit down while waiting for the ambulance.”

Mrs Hill’s face is slowly healing, but she in pain - her nose is blocked and she finds it hard to breathe.

“I’ve been taking good care of myself, and my friends and neighbours come over from time-to-time to check up on me,” she said.

Are you one of the good samaritans? Call the news desk on 020 8477 3878.