An elderly woman has been left terrified of travelling on trains after being trapped by a set of carriage doors while out shopping.

Violet Wright, 84, fell backwards into the carriage while struggling to stop the doors closing on her as she tried to alight at Purley Oaks station on Monday.

The shaken widow, who struggles with hip problems and a club foot, was trapped in the train until Purley station before being helped off by platform staff.

She said: “I was shaking when I got to Purley - it really frightened me.

“Normally another passenger helps me out by there was no one in my carriage and no staff on the platform.

“I told the chap I had had an ordeal and he said it was because they were short staffed.

“I’d managed to get one foot out and my shopping and called to someone on the platform but it was noisy and she couldn’t hear me.

“I was waving at her and the doors started closing.

“I tried to keep them open because I didn’t want to get stuck, but I wasn’t strong enough to push the doors and just fell backwards.

“I pressed the button again and again thinking the driver would open them again for me but he didn’t.

“It was terrifying and it’s put me off using the train.”

Mrs Wright said she had only just regained the confidence to go out following the death of her husband a year ago.

She said: “He was the best man in the world and we never went out without each other, so I’m not really used to going out alone.

“I try to manage but it’s hard work, especially when you are 84 - you don’t expect to have to jump on and off trains like you are 24.

“I don’t usually complain but I was really frightened.”

A spokesman for rail operator Southern apologised to Mrs Wright, but said there was normally “ample time” for passengers to get on and off their trains.

He said: “If a passenger or an object obstructs the doors as they close, they will open automatically allowing the passenger to complete their entry or exit.

“Staff were available at Purley Oaks station at the time the passenger encountered difficulties with the doors, but may not have been in the vicinity of the train at that exact time.”