A woman who slipped on ice and smashed her head has poured praise on the young 'knight in shining armour' who came to her aid.

Valerie Marsh, 70, of Addison Road, was trying to catch a bus on Bromley Common opposite Topps Tiles last weekend when, just before the bus stop she slipped on some sheet ice on the pavement which she said was caused by a leak freezing.

Valerie did not notice the ice, slipped and bashed her head and hurt her back. She lay on the floor until a young man came to her rescue.

She said the young man did not leave her side as an ambulance was called.

Valerie said: “It absolutely restored my faith in younger people.

“We have a lot to say about the people that get up to nasty things, but it was so selfless.

“What amazed me was he was so well dressed, and he was obviously going out, yet he took the time to kneel on the floor and help pick me up.

“He didn’t worry about his clothes. He was an amazing young man.”

“He was a real knight in shining armour,” she added.

She said: “I just think he is a credit to his family. He was so polite. And anybody else would have got on the bus because they had somewhere to go. But he wouldn’t leave. He just would not leave my side.

“It was comforting because I was so dazed and shocked with how I had fallen over and hit my back and my head. He just said, ‘no I’m not leaving you.’”

Valerie also praised two other men who helped her get an ambulance to Princess Royal University Hospital where she was monitored for head injuries and then sent home.

She said: “I just can’t thank them enough because they could have just not bothered.

“I was totally on my own and all over the place. They took charge of everything and I am full of praise for all of them for their kindness and their understanding.”

Valerie slammed Thames Water, who are responsible for gritting frozen leaks.

She said: “I’m hurt because somebody didn’t see the problem of running water, lots of traffic, and sub-zero temperatures."

A spokeswoman for Thames Water said: “We’re sorry to hear of Ms Marsh’s accident and wish her a speedy recovery.

“We believe the leak is on one of our large water mains running under the road and our investigations to trace it are ongoing.

“When the ground temperature is due to get below freezing we do our best to spread grit around all known leaks and the one on Bromley Common is on our list but when pavements are also slippery due to frost or snow we advise people take extra care.

“We urge anyone who spots a leak to report it via our website or social media so we can investigate, plan the repair and grit the area if the temperature drops.”