Police officers in County Durham have been praised after coming to the aid of a pensioner who had fallen in her own home and was found slumped against the door.

Last week, neighbourhood officers PCSOs Michael Atkinson and Caitlin De Villiers were dispatched to attend an address in Bishop Auckland after receiving a call from an elderly woman who had fallen in her own home.

The woman, who was in her 80s, told the police control room how she had been pottering around in the house when she’d fallen and wasn’t able to get herself back up.

Despite reassuring call handlers at the police control room that she wasn't in pain, the lady was distressed, with PCSO's Atkinson and De Villiers arriving at the scene to find the woman slumped against her back door.

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Both officers realised they needed some assistance from colleagues so called for back up to help pick the woman up.

Minutes later, they were joined by PCs Dan Wolstencroft and Connor Gibson, and, as a team, were able to safely move the woman onto a seat.

Officers made sure the woman was okay and contacted the council and other emergency services to make sure she received support.