A woman in her 20s has sustained serious injuries after she plunged several feet from a balcony during an alleged assault in Watford.

Police and paramedics raced to an address in Cezanne Road shortly before 1pm on Sunday following reports of a disturbance at the property.

An armed response unit and the police helicopter were later deployed to search the area.

A 21-year-old man from Watford has been charged with grievous bodily harm in the early hours of Monday morning in connection with the incident.

One eye witness said the woman had jumped off a balcony during the drama.

The neighbour said: "She jumped off the balcony. There were police and armed police - I think they knocked the door down.

"They were stopping anyone going in or out of the road.

"Then the paramedics and police helicopter came. The woman was taken away on a spinal board in the ambulance.

"Officers were round, they came and took my statement. I think the police were here for nearly three hours."

The East of England Ambulance Service were called at 12.49pm and sent a rapid response car and an ambulance to the scene.

A spokesman for the service said the woman was taken to Watford General with leg injuries.

James Davis said: "We were called at 12.49pm on Sunday, April 5, to Cezanne Road. We sent a rapid response car and an ambulance.

"We treated a patient who had fallen from a height for a suspected broken ankle and lower leg injuries.

"It appears the injuries were not life threatening.

"The patient, a woman in her 20s, was taken to Watford General Hospital."

Police said the woman suffered serious injuries and has now been released from hospital.

Sarah Spence, spokesman for Hertfordshire Constabulary, said: "A 21-year-old man from Watford has been charged in connection with an incident which is alleged to have occurred at Da Vinci Court, Cezanne Road, Watford, on Sunday, April 5.

"A woman in her 20s was assaulted at around 1pm at a property there. She suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital. She has since been released.

"Officers attended the area, with the support of the helicopter, to carry out a search.

"A man was arrested in the early hours of the following day."

Rikki Constable, who is 21 years old and from Da Vinci Court, Cezanne Road, is charged with GBH and is due before Hatfield Remand Court today.