AN ELDERLY woman who broke her leg tripping in a pothole has failed to get compensation from Lewisham Council despite the accident happening on a public road in Downham.

Mrs Eileen Vaughan, 75, caught her foot in the pot hole when she was crossing Downham Way in March.

An ambulance rushed her to Lewisham Hospital where she was treated for a broken bone in her foot and a severely twisted ankle.

She was released from hospital with her foot in plaster and was confined to a wheelchair for the following four weeks.

Mrs Vaughan, a Lewisham resident for the last 40 years, contacted the council hoping to receive some compensation for the pain and distress caused by the unfortunate incident.

But the council refused to pay her any money as it had complied with its obligations as a highway authority.

An officer for Lewisham Council said: “The council has to check the public highways every six months. Downham Way was last inspected on November 13 when the pot hole was not detected.”

Despite refusing to offer Mrs Vaughan any compensation Lewisham Council repaired the pothole on Downham Way five days after the incident happened.