BRAVE young amateur actress Elizabeth Slattery was determined the show should go on even after she was involved in a head-on car crash.

Ten-year-old Elizabeth - who is starring in Babes in the Wood this weekend - sustained a broken collar bone in the accident.

The youngster from Marchwood was travelling to church with her mum Angela and older sister Catharine when their Daewoo Matiz and a Vauxhall Movano van were in collision in Bury Road, Marchwood.

But at the weekend, Elizabeth was ready for a dress rehearsal with the Baddesley Barnstormers' show which takes to the stage on Friday, and is directed by her dad David.

Mum-of-three Angela, 41 - who had to be cut free from the wreckage of the car following the crash on February 6 - said Lizzie had been determined to go on with the show.

Speaking from their home in Reed Drive, Angela said: "Lizzie has gone back to school after the crash - she has been extremely brave about all this and never had any doubts about carrying on with the show.

"The doctors told her that with her arm she should do whatever she feels comfortable doing - she's got a lot of movement back in it already.

"She's very frightened about the whole accident and there has been a lot of tears, which has to be expected.

"She will definitely be in the show."

She and Catharine, 14, managed to climb out of the car after the accident, while Angela, a pharmacist, spent a week in hospital as a result of her injuries.

Babes in the Wood takes place at North Baddesley Village Hall on Friday and Saturday.

Bookings for the show can be made on 01703 255365.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.