ENGLISH football legend Jack Charlton has pulled out of a visit to Coleford after suffering serious injuries in a fall at home.
The former England ace was due to open the revamped Bells Hotel on Saturday and spend a few days in the Forest.
But his son Peter called Bells owner Clive McKeag to say the father-of-three had been rushed to hospital after falling downstairs.
Coleford Mayor Sue Merriken will hopefully step into his boots on Saturday when the hotel unveils the £500,000 makeover.
But all thoughts will be with Mr Charlton who was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Newcastle,
Mr McKeag said: "His son Peter rang me to say Jack fell at his home in Morpeth and not only broke his hip but hit his head among other injuries.
"Apparently Jack managed to crawl to a phone to alert his son. The first thing he said was to tell me about how he couldn't make it on Saturday. They wanted to operate on him but he was in too bad a way.
"I am very sorry to hear about my old friend who was going to stay with us in Coleford for a few days after the launch ceremony on Saturday."