A mother suffered nightmares and flashbacks when her car containing four young children was hit by a taxi, a court heard.

Customer assistant Victoria Hird was awarded £2,420 damages by Judge James Spencer QC at a county court hearing in Bradford today.

Miss Hird's barrister John Collins said she suffered a whiplash injury to her neck and shoulder when a taxi came from a side road and struck her car in West Lane, Keighley.

Miss Hird, a mother-of-one, of Ingrow, Keighley, was off work for four weeks after the accident on September 19, 2006.

Mr Collins said the shock of the crash was compounded because she had four young children in the car.

Afterwards, she slept badly and suffered flashbacks and nightmares.

James McKeon, for the defendant, Ensign insurance company, said liability was accepted at an early stage.

Miss Hird had made a complete recovery. The worst of her pain receded after a week and she was virtually back to normal after another month.

Judge Spencer said Miss Hird must have been shocked by the accident.

The taxi drove into the side of her car when she had four children on board.

She returned to work on light duties because of continuing pain and it took her nine to ten months to make a full recovery.

The judge awarded Miss Hird £2,000 general damages. The figure was boosted to £2,420 by specific additional claims for costs including car hire. Judge Spencer awarded £3,026 legal costs to Miss Hird's legal team.

Afterwards, Miss Hird said she was glad the case was over.