THE ESSEX Air Ambulance was called into action on Wednesday afternoon after a woman suffered a suspected heart attack in a Waitrose car park.

Paramedics were called to the store in Saffron Walden at 5.30pm after the woman, described as middle-aged, collapsed on the bottom level of the two-tier building.

Some nifty manoeuvring from the pilot meant that the chopper set down in Jubilee Gardens right next to the town centre.

After landing he told the Reporter: “I can only legally land in a space that is a least 10 metres wide all the way around – I think this is one of the smallest spots we have been called to.”

The helicopter only came as a precaution because of the lack of access to the location.

The woman was due to be whisked away in a normal ambulance after being assessed by a doctor at the scene.

One bystander said: “We saw flashing lights and knew something was wrong – the next minute the helicopter was overhead and landing in the gardens. We don’t know how he managed to fit.”

More to follow.