A 96-year-old woman was rescued after collapsing in her home.

A priest from a Hackney church, known only as Father Petries, was making his weekly visit to an unnamed member of his congregation at a flat off Ching Way in Chingford last Wednesday, but became concerned when she did not answer the door.

He knocked on the door of her neighbour James Syrett, who said he had not seen her a some time.

The two men then visited the nearby office of CBHA housing association, which manages the flat, to raise the alarm.

Maintenance surveyor, Kerry Wicks, arranged to meet building contractors at the flat.

On arriving at the flat, Miss Wicks noticed a key had been placed through a keyhole from the inside.

After failing to get a response the contractors broke in to the property through the patio door.

Miss Wicks said: “We found her on the floor, wedged behind the living room door.

“She had a pulse but she looked very dehydrated and had blue lips.

“We have obviously gone into properties before and found people who have passed away, but at least we got to her in time.

“It was a relief to find that she still had a pulse.

“If this had been left till another day circumstances could have been very different.”

An ambulance took the woman to North Middlesex Hospital where she is described as comfortable.

it is still not known what caused the woman to collapse.  CBHA said it will be fitting a personal alarm in her flat when she returns.