ESSEX Police were called in to action to stand in for ambulance teams after a Halstead man fell and couldn't get up.

Officers with Essex Police were called to an address in Halstead on Sunday 3 January to assist the man.

The man had suffered a fall and was unable to get back up with police reporting he hurt his head and was bleeding.

The police said that they were forced to respond to the call for help "due to the pressure the pandemic has put onto the NHS."

Reports say officers arrived to find the man on the floor but were able to help him up.

The man was reported very scared with officers comforting him and informing his son of the accident.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “Yesterday evening, due to the pressure the pandemic has put onto the NHS, officers were called to an address in Halstead to assist a very frightened gentleman that had fallen over who couldn't get up.

"He had banged his head and was bleeding. When officers arrived they found the gentleman on the floor, luckily he wasn't badly hurt and helped him up.

"The officers managed to get hold of his son to make him aware of what had happened but before they left the officers comforted the gentleman, helped change his clothes and even done his washing up.

"Well done to those involved."