AN 87-year-old woman who was stuck in the bath for four days has sparked an outpouring of sympathy and offers of help.

Last week, the Echo reported on Doreen Mann who got stuck in the bath for four days because she didn’t have the strength to get out.

Since then, companies and individuals have been offering their support to the 87-year-old to help make sure she is never in the same situation.

Sonia Congrave, 39, the waitress at Tomassi’s in Southend Hight Street who raised the alarm when Mrs Mann failed to come in the restaurant as she did almost on a daily basis, said: “I am overwhelmed by it all, the response has been fantastic. We have had so many people come forward to help.

“Doreen is doing fantastically well and she has really enjoyed all the attention. She is coming back in the restaurant and is happy.”

Two companies have come forward to help Mrs Mann. Peter Gordon, from Chelmsford, runs Convert A Bath, and has stepped in to offer Mrs Mann a free bath conversion.

The 64-year-old said: “We were really touched by the story. We had a lot of sympathy for Mrs Mann because when my mother-in-law had a stroke she had difficulty bathing and we converted her bath for her.”

Mr Gordon, along with his brother-in-law Alan Kent, carry out bath conversions that sees the side being converted, making it easier to get in and out the bath.

Another company moved by the story also came forward to help Mrs Mann.

Jeremy Rolph, the director of AquaLift, said: “After reading Doreen’s heart-warming story we were completely moved. Firstly by the bravery Doreen had shown after spending four days trapped in her bath and secondly by the caring and concerning nature shown by Sonia.

“As an independent bathing specialist this story really touched a nerve. Many of our customers’ have endured the same problem, where they became stuck in the bath, home alone, with no one to help.

“We were so touched by this story that we would like to install an AquaLift for Doreen completely free of charge.”