A BABY suffered head injuries when his mum fell on an uneven path while carrying him in Andover – but council bosses have refused to repair it.

Ami Ormsby, of Venice Court, was walking back to her car while visiting Galahad Close in March.

She tripped on the raised piece of concrete while carrying her son Phoenix, who was nearly one at the time. But after months of chasing Hampshire County Council to act, the authority said this week it would not be resurfacing the pavement.

Mrs Ormsby said: “I tried to cup Phoenix to stop him getting hurt so I twisted round in a commando-style roll and that is when his head hit the floor. Had I fallen flat I would have cracked his skull.”

The 27-year-old, who lives with husband Jamie and daughter Cadence, seven, said: “I was in shock, hysterical.  It was all very traumatic.”

Phoenix, who is now 17 months old, sustained a large cut to his forehead along with other cuts and bruises while Mrs Ormsby suffered cuts and extensive bruising to her legs and pain in her back.

Mrs Ormsby reported the incident immediately to HCC and they sent her a compensation claim form which she submitted mid-March.

Last month, however, her back went when opening a box lid while at work in the kitchen of Hatherden School. Her doctor believes it is related the fall and it has caused her to have to give up work.

She said: “Doing anything other than normal day to day life is a bit of a nightmare, things like going to the park with the kids, walking and standing for long periods of time.”

Describing the impact on the family, she added: “Initially the guilt of hitting your child’s face on concrete was awful but then after my back went I couldn’t do anything.

“My husband had to have time off work to help me, I couldn’t even pick the kids up because I was stooped over like an old lady.

“Not being able to do stuffthat is when it really started to get to me.”

The family recently received a response from the council to the compensation claim stating that they are not liable for her injuries.

Nearly six months on from the accident, however, no remedial actions have been taken to prevent any further falls, which is what prompted Mrs Ormsby to contact the Advertiser.

She said: “What I don’t understand is why they haven’t done anything to fix it – what if an elderly person falls on it or something else happens?”

HCC executive member for economy, transport and environment Councillor Seán Woodward said: “I was sorry to hear about the lady’s fall in Galahad Close. The footway is subject to regular inspections and had been inspected on December 18 before the accident.

“Further inspections were then carried out on March 19 and June 8 but, on all of these occasions, the footpath was considered to be in reasonable condition and not in need of urgent repair.”