A York care home has apologised after an elderly resident was left outside and forgotten by carers who had gone home at the end of their shift.

Patty Longfield, 89, was taken outside in her wheelchair by carers at Woolnough House in Tang Hall, who forgot to bring her back into the building and clocked off at 10pm.

Mrs Longfield was found an hour later having suffered painful injuries after falling from her wheelchair.

City of York Council, which owns Woolnough House, has "apologised unreservedly" to the family who say it is the third time the great-grandmother has been left outside the home - having previously been left outside in rain and snow when she was taken outside for a cigarette.

Shirley Barker, 60, Patty's daughter, said: "I'm disgusted. We're paying for her to be in there to be looked after.

"I've been to see her and she is still shaking.

"She had got out of her wheelchair as she was frightened and she fell. She tried to get back into the wheelchair a couple of times and every time she fell."

Mrs Barker said her mother had a bruised face and hand and her legs were bleeding following the incident on Wednesday night.

Mrs Longfield, who has lived at Woolnough House for 11 years due to long-standing health problems, was rescued after an elderly patient heard her banging on the window and raised the alarm.

She had been terrified she would be there all night, Mrs Barker said, who found blood from the fall still on the patio outside the next day.

Mrs Longfield's family has said they want action to be taken to ensure she is not neglected and a system putting in place to ensure they are informed as soon as an incident has happened.

Mrs Barker said she is due to meet a council director next week to discuss the matter.

Guy van Dichele, director of adult social care at City of York Council, said: “We are aware of and are investigating this incident as a priority with the home, the resident and her family to whom we have apologised unreservedly.

"Any failures to follow procedure and individual care and support plans will be disciplined appropriately. Alongside this we are also reminding all our homes of the best practice needed to keep our residents safe.”