Woman impaled on Derbyshire access row gate

A Derbyshire woman who was impaled on a gate spike has called for the path she was trying to use to be opened up.

Karen Morley, 50, cracked a rib and punctured a lung when she slipped while climbing over the gate in Lea last month.

The parish council said it had applied to the county council to have the route made a right of way immediately after it was closed off in 2008.

The owner said the land was private and had been used by illegal bikers.

Ms Morley suffered a three-inch deep wound when she fell onto the decorative fleur de lys spike while out running.

'Long process'

She was lifted off by her partner and an air ambulance took her to hospital where she was treated for a week.

While accepting she was trespassing, Ms Morley insisted other routes were not suitable.

"It will take you three quarters of a mile around and you have to go on a busy road... I would like to see the gate removed so everyone can have access to the woods and the canal like we used to."

The parish council said it had taken the matter to the county council when the gate was erected but had been told the process would take years.

The landowner declined to comment other than to say the land was private property and there had been repeated incidents of trespassing.