The family of a woman who died after falling in a pothole and breaking her hip said her death was ‘absolutely unnecessary’.
Beryl Barrett died on Christmas Day aged 87 after she clipped the wheel of her walking aid and fell backwards onto the road while crossing near her home in the market town of Warsop, Notts.
Her MP Steve Yemm, the Labour MP for Mansfield, raised her death with Sir Keir Starmer during Prime Minister’s Questions saying it was time to ‘take action’.
In a statement her family said she had an active life and was living independenly until the fall.
They said they believe the fall led to her six days later.
‘She regularly attended Church, Bingo and met family and friends for events, they said.
‘She used a walking aid, and on 19th December, after attending the hairdresser, she attempted to cross the road in Church St, Warsop – via the pedestrian crossing.
‘She clipped the wheel of her walking aid and fell backwards onto the road. Many kind members of the public rushed to help her. For that, we are truly grateful.’
Family members attended as did an ambulance. Paramedics confirmed she had broken her femur and the top of her previous hip replacement.
She was taken to Kings Mill Hospital and it was recommended that she have surgery the following week.
The family said: ‘Sadly and absolutely unnecessarily, she went into respiratory failure and passed away on Christmas Day.
‘We believe that, if that accident hadn’t have occurred (despite her underlying health issues) she would not have passed away in this way.’
After the incident, the Labour MP launched a new public petition urging Nottinghamshire Council to take decisive action to address the deteriorating condition of roads across Mansfield and surrounding areas, and to ensure public money is spent effectively.
He said: ‘Sadly, on Christmas Day, my constituent, Beryl Barrett, passed away after tragically falling into an unrepaired pothole, and I’m sure the whole house will wish to share my condolences with the family.
‘In my constituency of Mansfield, there are literally thousands of potholes in our roads, which the Nottinghamshire County Council are failing to repair.
‘Does the Prime Minister agree with me that it’s time the council took action to repair our roads, and will he meet with Beryl’s family, so that we can work together to ensure that no more accidents like this happen again?’
The Prime Minister responded: ‘Can I send my deepest sympathies to Beryl’s family.
Steve Yemm, the Labour MP for Mansfield, raised the death of his constituent with Sir Keir Starmer during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, saying it was time to ‘take action’
‘I will make sure the roads minister meets the family at the earliest opportunity. It shows why tackling potholes really matters.
‘We’re investing £2billion in East Midlands to fix the roads and improve local transport.
‘We’re also putting in place tough new standards so that councils must prove they’re fixing roads properly.’
Mr Yemm told the Manfield Chad: ‘I am angry that another member of our community in Mansfield and Warsop has suffered physical injury and in this case death as a result of the degradation of our roads in the area, and I have met with Beryl’s family to offer my condolences.’
A minute’s silence was held in memory of Mrs Barrett at the Warsop Parish Council meeting on Monday.
A statement from Warsop Parish Council said: ‘Our thoughts and sincere condolences are with Mrs Barrett’s loved ones at this difficult time.
‘The Parish Council recognises and shares residents’ concerns regarding the condition of local roads and pavements, which have been raised with our County Council representative and noted at the Parish Council meeting on 19 January 2026.
Councillor Bert Bingham, cabinet member for transport and environment at the authority, said his thoughts were with Barrett’s family, but said ‘we do not feel that it is appropriate to comment further until any relevant investigations have taken place’.
Neighbour and friend Mark Humphreys, 69, said: ‘She was an absolutely lovely lady. I gave her a Christmas card just two days before she had her fall.
‘She’d been in hospital with pneumonia recently, but other than that she was in good health. She should have had years left.
‘She lived alone. I think her husband passed away quite a few years ago. She’d sit on the bench outside her bungalow, or at her gate, and just say hello and chat to people as they walked by. She was that kind of lady. I really miss her – we’d have a cup of tea together at the community centre.
‘It’s absolutely terrible, what happened. It’s such a shame. I blame the council, 100 percent. If she hadn’t fallen, she’d still be here today. I can’t get over it, to be honest. When are they going to do something about these holes? The council should be ashamed of itself.’
A second neighbour, Ros Jones (NOTE wouldn’t give her age), said: ‘I think what has happened is disgusting. It’s so sad. The area where she fell is known for being particularly bad. It had needed to be sorted for ages.
‘It’s scandalous it has got to this stage. And it will happen again unless the council does something about it.
‘She was so easy-going. It’s a crying shame.’
Geoff Dale, 72, who lived opposite Beryl, said: ‘She was a fantastic lady, very generous and pleasant. She had a lot of family – a son, two daughters, and grandchildren. They must be devastated.
‘She’d been here a long time. To live such a long life and then die like that is tragic.’
A fourth neighbour, who didn’t want to be named, added: ‘It was only a matter of time until something like this happened. The roads around here are a disgrace.
‘She was such a nice lady, with a big family and lots to live for. It’s a tragedy.’
