Betty, 78, of Hawker Drive, Louth, was projected from the top of the stairs in an accident on Tuesday, July 29 when the seat of her stairlift came out of its correct position and catapulted her down the stairs.

Betty said: "It was such a big shock. I was pouring with blood – it was all over the carpet."

Betty was taken to Louth Hospital where she received treatment for severe bruising to her body and a deep cut to her forehead.

She was allowed home the same day on the condition her daughter, Christine Hickling of Louth, looked after her for 24 hours.

Her son Gary came round straight away, he said: "She was severely hurt and is in a lot of pain and discomfort but it could have been so much worse – if her dress hadn't got caught, she would have gone through the window at the bottom of the stairs".

The company which supplied the chair say it should have been serviced once a year to ensure its safety – but the elderly couple say they couldn't afford it.

The company is to investigate the accident.