A 99-YEAR-OLD woman has been hailed a hero for raising the alarm after finding her neighbour collapsed on the floor. Lillian Wright, who lives in sheltered housing accommodation on Grace Way in Stevenage, became concerned about her next door neighbour, Ro

A 99-YEAR-OLD woman has been hailed a hero for raising the alarm after finding her neighbour collapsed on the floor.

Lillian Wright, who lives in sheltered housing accommodation on Grace Way in Stevenage, became concerned about her next door neighbour, Rose Slater, when she failed to show up at her club last Thursday.

She said: "I knew she hadn't been well and I hadn't seen her that day."

Lillian, of Highfield Court, said she went to see how Rose was and found her door ajar and could just see her lying on the floor, on her back.

"She had her feet by the door so I couldn't get in," she explained, "so I said 'don't move and I will go and get help.'

"I tried every alarm in the corridor and none of them worked. The pendant around my neck didn't work either. I got in a bit of a panic because I couldn't leave her there, could I?"

Fortunately Lillian spotted a lady visiting a resident and asked for her help.

She dialled 999 and within minutes a police officer arrived.

An ambulance was also called and Rose was taken to Lister Hospital and later discharged.

"She's getting old and falling over," Lillian explained.

Lillian, who will be 100 in May, found Rose on the floor at about 6.45pm. She said: "If I hadn't gone to check on her, she could have lain there all night and something dreadful could have happened."

Lillian's daughter, Jean Doe of Archer Road in Stevenage, said: "She's a hero. She saved this lady's life."

Highfield Court is managed by Stevenage Homes. Lillian said: "If I hadn't tried the alarm no one would have known they didn't work. If you have an alarm you expect it to work, don't you? I don't know how often they look at them but they should check the alarms every day."

A spokesman for Stevenage Homes said: "A fault developed on the community alarm system which prevented the call centre staff from acknowledging alarm calls made by residents.

"It was possible for staff to hear the tenant and to know where the alarm was being activated but not to communicate with the tenant.

"Our alarm system is based upon the telephone network and faults do occur from time to time. As soon as they are identified we take steps to address them.

"The fault on the alarm system was identified and resolved that evening.

"All of the pull cords and pendants are tested monthly to ensure they are working and faults are usually resolved within 24 hours.