A widow who lay unconscious for days after a fall at home today thanked the milkman who saved her life.

Dorothy Mastakas, who broke her hip in the accident last month, said she was indebted to Bob Peacock who was "extra special".

Mrs Mastakas, 77, lives alone in Hove and drifted in and out of consciousness as she lay in agony on her living room floor.

It was only when Mr Peacock noticed a pint of milk left two days before had not been collected the alarm was raised.

Mr Peacock, 46, who has been delivering in the area for 20 years, said: "I went there on a Monday morning and saw the milk was left from Saturday, along with a pile of newspapers. I thought it was strange because Mrs Mastakas had not really been away since her husband died."

After unsuccessfully trying to contact her and her neighbours by phone, Mr Peacock rang the police. Officers broke down the front door when no one answered the bell.

An ambulance was called to take her to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

Mrs Mastakas, whose husband Thomas died two years ago, spent more than a month recovering before she was fit enough to be discharged.

She was so grateful to Mr Peacock she contacted The Argus to help track him down and say thanks.

Mrs Mastakas said: "I had a phone call from a friend to say they would be visiting so I tried to give the house a quick clean. Unfortunately I tripped over the vacuum cleaner, banged my head and broke my hip.

"I was completely out of it most of the time and when I woke up every so often I was in terrible pain.

"I am very grateful to Bob. Who knows what would have happened if he had not shown such common sense.

"Bob has been the milkman round here for years and has always been really nice but he has been extra special this time."

It is not the first time Mr Peacock, a milkman for 26 years, has been a hero.

He said: "A few years ago I saw an organic food shop in Stoneham Road was on fire.

"It was about 5am and someone had set the front door alight and the whole building would have gone up in flames.

"Luckily I had some bottled water on my float and was able to put it out."

Mr Peacock, who thinks it is part of a milkman's job to look after the community, said: "It was a great relief to hear Mrs Mastakas was alright. I think it is important to know your customers' habits so you can tell when something is wrong.

"Sometimes I'm like a member of the family and I'm always getting invited in for a cup of tea - even though I can never make it because I'm too busy."

Mrs Mastakas also praised the police and hospital staff for helping her.

She said: "Everyone has been really kind and I am very grateful to them all for their help."