I WOULD very much like to thank everyone for their kind gestures when my father Peter Birch, who is 84-years-old, slipped over in the ice and snow and suffered a fractured dislocation of his right ankle at Derwent Parade Market, in South Ockendon, on Tuesday, December 21.

The people in the market were so kind – the charity shop lent us a big pink blanket, a lady fetched one from her car, the fruit and veg trader tore up a large cardboard box for him to lay on, another lady used her shopping bag to leviate his leg. Someone also asked for his mobile phone to call his daughter.

The owner of the market was quick on the scene and phoned an ambulance, the crew were fantastic.

Peter was whisked to Basildon Hospital and will have his leg in plaster and will be cared for by his family.

The hospital dicharged him on Christmas Eve evening so we had our lovely dad with us over the festive period. – DEBBIE SOMA, address supplied.