A Wiltshire woman is fighting to claim compensation from a Berkshire-based housing association after falling down a manhole outside her home.

Susan Harland, 59, suffered severe bruising to her stomach and the back of her left leg after falling down a manhole in Gryphon Close, Westbury, when the cover collapsed when she stood on it.

She was immediately rushed to the Frome Community Hospital by her landlady Susan Edwards following the incident on Monday, April 29.

She was sent home on crutches after being treated for her injuries and was off work for two days from her part-time job with Rapid Recovery Ltd in Westbury.

Since then, Ms Harland has been fighting to claim compensation for her injuries from Newbury-based Sovereign Housing Association, which has not accepted liability.

Miss Edwards said: “On April 29 my lodger fell through a manhole cover belonging to Sovereign Housing. She just stood on it and it collapsed.

“Within two hours of its happening and her returning from hospital on crutches, the manhole cover had been repaired, cemented and replaced.

“Susan was left traumatised, sick and upset by the incident. We took photos of the damaged manhole cover and bruising to her legs and stomach.

“Since that day, she has been in contact with Sovereign, trying to get a claim in process.

“The man who is supposedly dealing with this has said he’s spoken to their insurance company, who have no knowledge of this whatsoever.

“Someone even filled in a claim form over the phone and apparently there is no record of this either.”

Susan Harland pictured with her landlady Susan Edwards and the manhole cover that has now been replaced.. Image: Trevor Porter 77124-2 Susan Harland pictured with her landlady Susan Edwards and the manhole cover that has now been replaced. Image: Trevor Porter 77124-2 (Image: Trevor Porter)

She says they’ve chased Sovereign after putting in the compensation claim but have not been kept updated on its progress.

“We last heard from Sovereign Housing Association on Wednesday (June 5) when one of their staff tried to close down stage one of Susan’s claim.

“They asked us if we were satisfied with what they had done but they have done nothing.

“We are now in direct contact with their insurance company Zurich,” Miss Edwards said. “We only heard back officially from Zurich last Thursday (June 6).”

A spokesperson for Sovereign Housing Association said: “We took immediate action to repair the manhole cover on the day it was reported to us by Ms Harland.

“This incident would not be RIDDOR reportable as it was not involving a work activity.

“The claim itself will be passed to our insurer for assessment once Ms Harland has returned her claim form. Please note that there is no acceptance of liability on our behalf.”