OLDER customers are regularly tripping over a high kerb outside a pharmacy and injuring themselves, according to shop staff.

Beverley Dunn, who works at Lloyds Pharmacy in Gloucester Street, Weymouth, says she and her colleagues treat customers for cuts and sprains on a weekly basis.

Mrs Dunn says several customers and store staff have complained to Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and asked that something be done about the pavement outside the store.

Mrs Dunn said: "The situation is getting ridiculous out there now - we've had three people trip up outside the shop and hurt themselves quite badly within the last week.

"Only last week a woman fell and cracked her head - there was literally blood everywhere and we had to call a doctor.

"I only started here last August but I've seen plenty of nasty slips in that time.

"We've treated people who have fallen and sprained their wrists and had cuts and grazes to their shins, arms and heads.

"We had one woman who fell out there and it was so bad we recommended she went to Accident and Emergency."

Jan Rigby, who has worked at the pharmacy for three years and is a qualified first-aider, estimates she has treated 40 customers in that time for injuries sustained through tripping.

Former health care assistant Mrs Dunn added: "We've tried telling the council about this but nothing has been done about it.

"A lot of our customers are quite elderly and it's good for them to be able to come out and shop for themselves.

"As someone who has worked with elderly people and people with mental health issues I would like to think that we could continue to promote elderly people keeping their independence.

"It would be great for our older customers to continue coming to the shop to get their own prescriptions, but that pavement is very, very high and dangerous."

Coun Christine James, brief holder for transport and infrastructure for the council, said: "There is no prescribed height for kerbs as it depends on the level of the ground on either side.

"In this instance, the car park is at a different level from the road so a slightly higher kerb is needed to make the pavement even.

"This is over a very short stretch and there is a dropped kerb at each end where people can cross easily.

"Following the complaint made this morning, which is the first of its kind that we have received, an officer has been out to inspect the pavement and has found no defects, such as potholes, that could be causing people to trip up."