A man’s fall at a popular Milford Haven footpath was ‘an accident waiting to happen’ a local county councillor has said.

Cllr Viv Stoddart said she had been pushing for the Havens Head footpath, Hakin, to be repaired for some time and also had raised concerns about lighting along the path.

Fire crews were called to rescue a man who had fallen approximately 15ft from the path at around 12.30am on Sunday, December 15.

Two appliances from Milford Haven and one from Haverfordwest assisted in the rescue, using line rescue equipment, to help the man back up the bank before giving him first aid. He was then taken to hospital.

Cllr Stoddard said she was very concerned to hear that someone had fallen but was not surprised.

"Regrettably this was an accident waiting to happen,” she said.

“There was a potential here for very serious injury to a walker.

"I understand that it was fortunate that the accident victim's cries for help were heard. There is no way a faller could clamber up the muddy bank.

"I have been pressing for repairs to this very popular path for as long as I can remember.

"Some patching has been done, but the path needs a complete refurbishment.

"The shabby chain link fence along the walk is totally inadequate as a barrier to prevent people falling down the steep bank and in to the lake.

"I have also raised time and time again the inadequacy of the street lighting, but Pembrokeshire County Council has refused my request to replace the lights that have been removed in the past.

"This results in intimidating pools of complete blackness as walkers at night attempt to negotiate the uneven and rough path. It should not be necessary for an accident to spur the council in to remedying the situation."

A Pembrokeshire County Council spokesman said: “Haven’s Head footpath is an urban path maintained by Pembrokeshire County Council’s area maintenance team.

“It is unlikely that we would be able to provide lighting along the walkway at the present time on grounds of cost. However, we are exploring other avenues.”