An elderly woman injured in a fall lay on the ground in Weymouth town centre for almost three hours waiting for an ambulance to arrive.

The Weymouth woman, aged 86, was comforted by shop staff and passers-by after she tripped over in the lane near Debenhams off New Bond Street.

She was said to be "in agony".

While a paramedic was on scene in two hours it was almost another hour before an ambulance was on scene to take her to hospital where she was treated for a leg injury.

Ambulance chiefs have apologised for the long wait.

It comes amid increased pressures on the service.

The Echo has reported on several cases of patients who have had to endure long waits for an ambulance.

The woman who fell in Weymouth on Wednesday was with her friend Gill Hansford, 83.

Ms Hansford said the emergency services were contacted at 10.05am, but it wasn't until about 12pm that a paramedic arrived, and about 1pm when the ambulance arrived.

Speaking at her friend's side, Ms Hansford said: “She has hurt her leg and is in agony. She has a bad leg. We can’t move her because we don’t know what we’re doing.

“It is bad to leave a woman that age for so long. I know they can’t help it because they’re short staffed, so you just have to wait and try to be patient.”

Despite this, Ms Hansford said a number of people offered to help her friend, and covered her with a duvet.

She explained: “People have asked to help; it has been unbelievable, they don’t just walk by. People in the town are always really nice and try to help.”

Debenhams workers Zoe Chipp and Kerrie Holman, who are first aiders, went to the woman's aid.

Ms Hansford added: “Those two girls from Debenhams came out and helped. They have been marvellous and have been waiting a long time for the ambulance to arrive.”

A woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “The woman was there when I came in on the bus and that was just after 10am, and the poor lady is still there and it’s gone 12pm.

“It’s unfortunate, but it’s the way things are going with the NHS.

“I can’t believe she was still there.”

A spokesman for South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust said: “We would like to apologise that we were unable to reach this lady more quickly.

“Managing the demand on the ambulance service across the south west can be very challenging.

“At the time of this call there were a large number of serious life-threatening, time critical incidents across the west Dorset area.

“Whilst we will always try to reach our patients in a timely manner, we must prioritise those with the greatest clinical need.

“Sometimes this means that less poorly patients do not get the response that we would wish.”