A trip to the supermarket turned into a trip to casualty for Jessica Robinson after she fell down an uncovered manhole.

The eight-year-old was walking with friends towards Sainsbury's in Lewes Road, Brighton, when she fell into an open drain hole and trapped her right leg.

Jessica was in agony as one of her friends rushed to fetch her parents from their home in nearby Saunder's Park View.

After they arrived, Jessica was taken by ambulance to Royal Sussex County Hospital. Doctors suspected her leg was broken and fitted a plaster cast.

Jessica's mum Jennie Robinson, 36, said: "When I heard she had been hurt I was in a panic because I had no idea what to expect. When I saw her it was awful because she was in so much pain. I hated seeing her that way.

"I am fuming that this has been allowed to happen to my little girl when it could have so easily been avoided.

"But what is even more worrying is that an elderly person may have fallen into the drain and been much more seriously injured.

"Jessica is still getting shooting pains up her leg and is understandably quite irritable. This should not have been allowed to happen."

Jessica is being cared for at home by her parents and her three brothers and sisters.

Doctors will not know if she has broken her leg until the swelling has gone down.

They have warned she may be in a cast for several weeks and advised that she does not return to Downs Junior School until it is removed.

Mrs Robinson said: "Although I am angry this has happened, I don't know if we will be taking any legal action against Sainsbury's.

"Since the accident on Saturday, even before Sainsbury's knew the drain was its responsibility, someone from the store has been calling every day to check Jessica is okay and I can't really fault them for that.

"Besides, you can't put a price on a child's health."

Sainsbury's has now covered the hole.

A spokeswoman said: "We have spoken to the customer concerned at length to get a full picture of how the accident occurred and are investigating the matter."