Two Colchester PCSOs have been praised by paramedics for potentially saving the life of a man in his 90s who was having a stroke.

PCSOs Emma Wright and Sarah Hardy were called to an house in Colchester after neighbours expressed concern about his wellbeing.

They contacted police as they hadn’t seen him and he was not answering his phone or his door.

Emma and Sarah, equipped with their powers of entry if there is a concern for life, smashed a window at the rear of the house to gain entry.

They quickly found the man, who had collapsed in his home and couldn’t get up, checked him over for injuries and helped him up.

While chatting to him, Emma spotted the man’s mouth had began to drop and she feared he was having a stroke.

She called the ambulance service and informed paramedics of his condition.

They later confirmed he had suffered a stroke, praising the PCSOs for their quick thinking and life-saving actions.

The man was rushed to hospital where he remains under observation.

The pair went to visit the man the next day and he thanked them both for their help.

Emma and Sarah also passed their thanks to the man’s neighbours who alerted police to the situation

PCSO Emma Wright said: “We were at the right job at the right time and it’s all thanks to his concerned neighbours who see him on a daily basis and give him his morning paper.

“This resulted in us being sent to the man’s address, forcing entry and being with him when he needed help the most and needed medical attention.

“It was an emotional job with a happy ending.”

PCSO Sarah Hardy added: “If his neighbours hadn’t have been keeping an eye out for him this may have had a completely different outcome.

“There are neighbourhoods out there that don’t know the first name of their neighbour so how would they know if something isn’t right.

“We really need to keep an eye out for one another especially with our elderly ones.

“A thank you has already been given to the neighbours who contacted us however I would like to say another big thank you to them and I wish the man a speedy recovery.”