A woman who suffered horrific injuries in a head-on car smash with a drink driver is set to start a support group for other crash victims.

Nicole Woodley, 33, of Bingley, was told she was lucky to be alive after the crash in Otley Road, High Eldwick, in April.

She spent more than three months in hospital and has had four operations to put metal plates in her arms and legs.

Drink driver Robert Firth, 59, of Bradford Road, Bingley, was jailed for four months, suspended for 24 months, and banned from driving for three years following a hearing at Bradford Magistrates Court in June.

Now Miss Woodley is set to launch a support network for other victims and start a campaign across Bradford district to warn people of the dangers of drink-driving.

Miss Woodley, of Tulyer Court, Gilstead, said: “Ever since the accident, I have been trying to keep positive and focus on my recovery and being angry is not going to help that.

“But I have had a bit of a bad time being at home by myself. You leave hospital and you are forgotten about.

“There seems to be a lot of support groups out there for the families of victims who have died but nothing for people who have gone through something horrendous and survived.”

Miss Woodley, who is due to marry her fiance, teacher Saul Williams, next year, was involved in the collision near Dick Hudson’s pub as she drove home from work on April 19.

She blacked out immediately but came round as firefighters battled for two hours to free her from the twisted wreckage of her Toyota Corolla car.

She was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary suffering from a catalogue of injuries including puncture wounds in her right leg, a severed tendon in her knee, broken bones in her arms and hands and a smashed shin.

More than five months later, she is still walking on crutches or using a wheelchair, has severe scarring and may still need further surgery.

She had been training for a black belt in kick boxing but will now have to give up the sport as the accident has left her with a permanent limp.

She said she had found a “serious lack” of support groups for road crash victims when searching on the internet.

“There is a very successful group in Liverpool but it doesn’t help people in this area,” she said. “I have received quite a lot of information now and I am looking to set up a website to start building awareness of the help people need after accidents.

“I will go into sixth forms at schools and talk to them about drink-driving and show them the impact it can have.

“If it can make a difference to just one person’s life, it will be worth it.”

Anyone who may be able to help Miss Woodley or who needs support following a road accident can contact her by e-mail at nicolewoodley@yahoo.co.uk.