Harold Robinson was said to have "somersaulted several times" when he fell down two six-inch steps on a slope outside the side entrance of King Johns Tavern – cracking his femur three times.

He needed surgery and had to have pins inserted in his leg and is still recovering in hospital.

His family say there was no warning sign or handrail to help the elderly or disabled avoid the hazard at the pub in South Road, Hartlepool.

Pub owner JD Wetherspoon confirmed there are no precautions in place and say they will now investigate the problem as the steps join a sloping path.

Harold, 79, has so far been in hospital for nine days recovering from surgery after the incident at 3.30pm on Thursday, March 4.

Daughter-in-law Alison, 43, from the Clavering area of Hartlepool, said: "If it was someone who didn't have the strength of mind of Harold, then it could have been much worse.

"When he got to the hospital he thought that was it, that he would be leaving in a box.

"But he has come through the hardest bit and is getting better. Now he just wants to make sure no one else suffers like he has.

"Once he is home and well, we will take it further and start to look at what we can do legally."

The mum-of-three said she had to quit her new job to care for Harold's wife Jean, 78, who was living in a bungalow 11 miles from Hartlepool, in Thornley, with Harold as her carer.

Alison had only started her new role working with trauma patients three weeks ago.

She added: "My life is up in the air now. We hope Harold makes a good recovery, but you just don't know.

"Our lives have been changed over something so unnecessary and avoidable."

Harold had been out with his wife Jean, Alison and son Keith, 42, a fork-lift truck driver at Teesport, when they popped into the pub for one drink after spotting an old friend.

A spokesman for JD Wetherspoon said: "It's obviously a very distressing situation for the man and his family and we pass on our best wishes to them and hope he makes a good recovery.

"We are not aware of any incidents like this happening before. There is no signage or rails and now we have been made aware of the issue we will certainly consider all the options open to us.

"We cannot comment on the issue of legal action."