A TEENAGE girl has spoken of her amazing escape after being crushed by an overturned car that ploughed into a telephone box as she made a call.

Jestine Fennessy is lucky to be alive after the accident outside her home on Friday.

The 15-year-old escaped with a broken nose and a few scratches, despite having to be freed by firefighters from under the wreckage of a Toyota car and the phone box.

It is believed the female driver of the car may have taken ill at the wheel, causing her to lose control. She has also been released from hospital.

This week Jestine spoke of the horror as she looked through the window of the telephone box to see a car hurtling through the air towards her, outside her home in Evenwood Gate, near Bishop Auckland.

She said: "I turned round and saw the car flying through the air. It came flying over the grass and started to turn in the air. I saw the headlights and turned away from it to try and run but the glass from the phone box was in the way.

"I just heard the glass smash and the car landed on top of me.''

Neighbours were unaware that the Staindrop School pupil was under the wreckage until they heard her scream.

Two men tried to lean on the car to try and keep as much weight off her as possible until the emergency services arrived.

She was taken by air ambulance to James Cook Memorial Hospital where she was kept in overnight for observation.

But the plucky youngster refused to stay at home and attended an awards ceremony on Saturday afternoon where Strictly Come Dancing Stars presented her with a Latin dancing trophy in Bishop Auckland.

Mum Karen had been out shopping for the day and was given the news by neighbours when she got home shortly afterwards.

She said: "I was taken straight to the hospital by the police and when I got there she was a bit hysterical but she just kept making jokes. She is just taking it all in her stride.''

Justine's stepdad Malcolm Dowson said that the accident has reinforced residents' arguments for a speed limit on the busy main road.

He said: "We will be writing a letter to the MP for help."