A great-gran was forced to lie on the ground in the pouring rain for almost NINE hours waiting for an ambulance after she fell and broke her hip.

Rita Tonks, 87, was left in agony when she collapsed on her driveway as she went outside to get to her garage at around 12.50pm last Monday (4/10).

Neighbours heard Rita screaming for help and rushed around to her aid following the fall outside her home in Telford, Shrops.

They worked to keep the retired council worker warm by bringing out patio heaters, umbrellas and duvets while her son dialled 999 at 1.15pm.

Paramedics finally arrived at the property at 10pm and Rita was taken to Telford's Princess Royal Hospital where she underwent a partial hip replacement.

Shocking footage shows Rita lying stricken on the cold and wet driveway in the torrential rain as she waited for an ambulance to arrive.

Her son Steve Tonks, 63, has now blasted the unacceptable delay after his frail mum was left stranded on the tarmac for almost nine hours.

Steve, of Shrewsbury, a retired managing director of a logistics company, said: "My mum had gone out to the garage when her knee gave way and she collapsed.

"She screamed out for help and her neighbours went around to help while they called me and my brother.

"My brother called an ambulance at 1.15pm but it didn't arrive until 10pm.

"She waited on the cold and wet driveway - it was pouring with rain. The ambulance service had advised not to move her.