A carer fell down a Colchester storm drain after its cover had been removed by pranksters.

Sam Spalding and the offending storm drain

Sam Spalding, 31, only stopped herself from falling down the drain by grabbing the sides with her arms, and managed to pull herself out.

Mrs Spalding, of Prince Charles Road, Monkwick, Colchester, had just got out of her car after parking in Devon Close, Shrub End, Colchester, when she plummeted down the uncovered hole.

The care assistant with TLC Care was on her way to see one of her clients, Dawn Ashley, but ironically it was Mrs Ashley who ended up looking after Mrs Spalding.

"I knew there was a drain there but I couldn't see properly because it was dark," said Mrs Spalding.

"I just got out of my car and fell down the drain."

The drain cover was replaced by Colchester Council's highways department and the site will now be monitored closely, a highways spokesman said today.

Published Friday, March 15, 2002