A man who was attacked just 50 yards away from the Welsh and English border claims he had to wait more than 48 hours for a police response because of where he lives.

Alex Dufort, who lives in Presteigne, dialled 999 and got through to West Mercia Police in England, but the attack happened in Wales. The 57-year-old’s home is on the English side of the border.

He said the force should have known to pass details of the incident on to Dyfed-Powys Police.

West Mercia Police today admitted the service provided to Mr Dufort had fallen short of what it would have expected and steps should have been taken to connect him to police in Powys.

Mr Dufort said he had been assaulted by a youth in Broad Street, Presteigne, last Thursday while riding home on his bike.

Following the attack Mr Dufort, who suffered deep cuts and severe bruising to his right elbow, managed to make his way home. “Most of Presteigne is in Powys but I live over Lugg Bridge which is therefore technically in England,” he said

“When I arrived home I dialled 999 and clearly stated that the assault, from which I was bleeding profusely at the time, had taken place in Broad Street, which was in Wales.

“I was told someone would call me back but they didn’t until 48 hours later. It never crossed my mind that I was supposed to be speaking to Dyfed-Powys Police.

“I don’t expect to be the genius of the police force when I’ve just been beaten up so surely someone from West Mercia should have told me to get in touch with Dyfed-Powys Police.

“Luckily for me I realised the next day and contacted Dyfed-Powys Police but I think there needs to be a system in place to stop this from happening in the future.”

Chief Inspector Jon Roberts, of Hereford Police Station, said: “It is clear the service provided by West Mercia Police to Mr Dufort fell short of what we would have expected, in that, having received and recorded Mr Dufort’s call, we did not inform colleagues in Presteigne (Dyfed-Powys) at the time.

“The call-taker ascertained on talking to Mr Dufort that he was in no immediate danger and, given other resourcing commitments across the county at the time, no immediate deployment was made.

“We shall be investigating the incident internally and writing to Mr Dufort over the matter.”

By Anwen Evans