By Saul Cooke-Black

A PREGNANT woman could have lost her child after falling over a dangerous pothole in Chapel Street, Stroud, and breaking her ankle.

Shelly McNally, who suffers from epilepsy, was walking home when she tripped over the hole and tumbled to the ground.

Neighbours came to the rescue of the 22-year-old as she lay helplessly in the rain unable to move, providing coats and blankets while an ambulance was called.

Her partner, Jamie Constant, said: “We were walking back from having a meal in town when the next thing I heard was a scream.

“Shelly was lying on the ground crying for help.

“If she had landed on her stomach, it could have been a lot worse.

“Thankfully it is just her ankle.

“The whole street is in a total state of disrepair.

"Action needs to be taken to stop more people getting hurt."

Shelly, who is 30 weeks pregnant, was taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital by ambulance with a broken bone in her foot.

She has been left in a wheelchair with her leg in plaster.

“We would like to thank the neighbours who came out to help," said Mr Constant.

Daniel Tiffney, local area highways manager for Gloucestershire County Council, said: “We received a report from Mr Constant and have arranged for an inspector to visit the site.

“This is the first report the council have received of any defects on this stretch of pavement."