A Bradford couple who survived a fatal car crash have had an emotional reunion in hospital.

Mark Mahomet and his wife, Kath, from Queensbury, are recovering in separate wards in the Calderdale Royal Hospital after the smash in Boothtown, Halifax, as they returned from a Saturday night out.

Mark, 34, has been in intensive care and heavily sedated since the tragedy 12 days ago. Kath, 37, is continuing her recovery on a nearby ward after sustaining chest injuries.

Mark's mother, Sue Mahomet, of Oakworth, Keighley, said: "Mark came round and started asking for Kath and she was able to visit him, although she is still in a wheelchair.

"Before, I had been the middle-man between them, taking kisses from one to the other."

The couple were going home to Burnett Rise, in Queensbury in a taxi when they were in a head-on collision with a Ford Sierra on March 2. They have been told seatbelts they were wearing probably saved their lives.

Mrs Mahomet said: "So many people wouldn't bother to put them on in the back seat of a taxi after a Saturday night out.

"Kath had a thing about always using them and reminded Mark on the night - and thank heaven for that. They have been told the way the car ended up they would been thrown out and could have been killed."

Mark had more surgery yesterday for internal injuries. His condition is still "poorly."

Mrs Mahomet said: "He has never been unconscious, though he has been heavily sedated by the doctors.

"We have to lip-read but at least we can communicate with him, which is a relief and another sign he is over the worst, we hope."

The driver or the taxi, from Halifax, is "improving" in Leeds General Infirmary after sustaining head injuries.

The driver of the Sierra, Paul Gilliam, of Queensbury, was killed.

The Sierra passengers, all from Queensbury, sustained injuries but now are understood to have left hospital.

Mr Mahomet, 34, used to play rugby league for Worth Village.

He was an apprentice at Butler Newhall, then worked at OK Escalators in Keighley and still has many friends in the area.

Calderdale traffic police want to hear from witnesses to the accident, which happened in Boothtown Road, Boothtown, at 3.55am on Sunday, March 2.

An inquest on Mr Gilliam has been opened and adjourned.