A young woman was recovering today after an accident with a bulldozer on a waste tip.

Falconer Clare Taylor, 19, of Great Bromley, works as a bird scarer at Bellhouse landfill site, Warren Lane, Stanway.

Essex Police said: "She was working on the site when the bucket of a bulldozer caught her leg and she was dragged over."

It is believed she fractured her right leg in two places.

Miss Taylor was stretchered off the tip to an area where Essex Air Ambulance could safely land. Paramedic John Bowen said: "She had a broken leg but was very lucky not to be more severely injured. The ground was very soft due to the rain, which prevented her from being crushed."

Mr Bowen added: "She was shocked, cold and very wet and we treated and stabilised her at the scene before taking her to Colchester General Hospital."

Essex Ambulance spokeswoman Victoria Spurr said: "It would have been impossible to get a land vehicle to the patient. The mud would have made it impassable.

"Paramedics Steve Shelley and John Bowen returned covered in mud."

Miss Taylor's boss, Mark Newman of MAN pest control, said: "Clare has been working for us for seven months and is very careful."

Miss Taylor was allowed home from hospital this morning. The Health and Safety Executive has been informed.

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