THE Great Western Hospital is running out of crutches because of the summer weather.

The hospital is concerned that if the hot weather continue, stocks of the walking aids will disappear and is relying on the public's goodwill.

Hospital spokesman Chris Birdsall said: "We do have crutches, but stocks are running low so rather than wait for the situation to get worse we're asking for people to return their crutches."

The hospital says the crisis has been caused by an increased number of ankle and leg-related injuries.

"Because of the hot weather people have been spending more time outside doing various activities and it appears that that has led to people coming in with the kind of injuries that need crutches - there has been a run on crutches," said Mr Birdsall.

"It's not a panic, but our stocks are running low and the weather continues to be nice.'' Crutches cost £12 and the hospital says hundreds are distributed for free from the emergency department every year to anybody who requires them.

Mr Birdsall said: "When we provide crutches it's a loan and although we're happy for people to keep the crutches for as long as they need them, it's important people bring them back once they have finished using them so that we can give them to others."

The hospital is appealing to anybody who has crutches they do not need to bring them to the accident and emergency reception. Only crutches in good working order are wanted.

"What we would ask is that if anybody does have a pair of crutches they no longer need we'd be grateful if they could return them," said Mr Birdsall.

"Some people are great and return them as soon as they are finished with them and other people for a whole range of reasons forget or it's not particularly easy to get them back to us."

Mr Birdsall said that, in the past, crutches had been spotted in people's conservatories holding up their plants or even on allotments holding up runner beans.