The family of an 86-year-old grandmother said her "agonising" wait in an emergency department rated by inspectors as one of the worst in England was an "absolute disgrace".

Joan Jones was left "rolling over in pain" at the A&E department at Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan, Greater Manchester, her family said.

Her son, Barry Jones, said his mother had suffered a collapsed gallbladder and was in "constant pain" while waiting for treatment. He said it took 30 hours before she was admitted to a ward.

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said it took the family's concerns "very seriously" and insisted cutting waiting times was a "key priority".

Last month, a damning CQC inspection report found the hospital trust was one of the worst in the country for people spending more than 12 hours in the emergency department.

"The situation was unbelievable," said Barry Jones, 62, from Ashton-in-Makerfield.

"Mum was so tired and weak. Even other people in the waiting room were saying, 'what's she doing in here?'."

An ambulance took Joan Jones from her home in Ashton-on-Makerfield to the hospital in the early hours of Sunday 18 October.

Her son said a nurse told him his mum "wasn't a priority".

He continued: "Police were bringing criminals in and they were going straight in to get treatment.

"The whole system is upside down. It's wrong that those people are getting seen first."

Barry Jones said after repeatedly asking nursing staff for help, his mum was eventually given a pillow and put on a trolley bed in the corridor.

About 30 hours after arriving at the hospital, Joan Jones was moved onto a ward.

Joan Jones's daughter Angela said her mother had been through a "traumatic experience" and that elderly patients were being "let down" after paying into the system throughout their working lives.

In a statement, hospital trust CEO Mary Fleming said she was sorry to hear about the concerns raised by the family.

She said: "We welcome the opportunity to speak with her family directly, understand their concerns and provide any additional support we can.

"Because of increased demand across our urgent and emergency care services and delays in discharge, some patients are experiencing longer waits than we would ever want. We understand how worrying and stressful it can be when someone you love needs urgent care."

Fleming said reducing waits and improving the experience of patients was a key priority and there had been improvements.

She added: "We're working hard to develop alternatives to Emergency Department but while we do experience periods of unprecedented demand, we will continue to treat patients in order of clinical priority and to ensure people receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time."