AN undergraduate forced to miss a year of studies following a serious accident is about to resume her university course.

Ursula Billington was crushed against a wall by a runaway council van, which rolled down the cobbled street of Owengate, off Palace Green, Durham, last October.

She suffered severe internal injuries and was critically ill in intensive care over the following days, before spending several weeks recovering in hospital.

Miss Billington, from Derbyshire, had only been at University College, Durham, for five days as a fresher at the time of the accident.

The lengthy rehabilitation period caused her to miss nearly the whole of the first year of her psychology course, but her place was kept open by the university to take up her studies at the start of this term.

A university spokesman said: "We're pleased Ursula is now well enough to take up the place that was held for her.

"In the circumstances, her place was still available.

"Her friends at the university wish her well when she carries on where she left off last year."

Ursula, now 19, said she was delighted to be able to resume her studies.

She also thanked the people of Durham - and the medical staff at Newcastle who treated her - for their support following the accident.

Ursula, who is a keen musician, also hopes to carry on playing the violin and playing as a percussionist in several groups, including her family's blues outfit, The Piranha Band, in which she plays with her mother, Penny, and father, Arthur.

l A city council workman, whose unattended van hit Miss Billington, was subsequently fined £150 by North Durham magistrates for careless driving.

The 28-year-old man, from the Gilesgate area of Durham, was also ordered to pay £335 costs and given three penalty points on his licence following the incident.