A NORTH-EAST man is flying out to Greece today to help care for his teenage daughter who was badly injured in a moped smash.

Darren Stephens hopes 13-year-old Ashleigh will have recovered from a series of operations in an Athens hospital by the end of next week and can travel back home to Coundon, County Durham.

Ashleigh's mum, Lorraine, has been at her bedside since the accident ten days ago on the island of Kos.

At first it was feared the family would have to pay thousands of pounds in medical and travel costs because moped accidents are outside the terms of their holiday insurance policy.

The company relented and agreed to meet all Ashleigh's expenses, but not those of her relatives.

Darren's trip is being funded by friends in Coundon who collected donations and organised a charity auction in the Foresters Arms last night.

Thanks to them, Ashleigh's 15-year-old sister Sian, who helped look after her immediately after the accident, was able to fly home from Kos on Thursday night.

Darren cannot wait to see his daughter, who was so badly injured she had to have metal plates and pins inserted in her face, thigh, leg and wrist and have her teeth and jaw wired.

He said last night: "She is in a lot of pain. It is just starting to get to her now. She is desperate to get home. Lorraine has been with her all the time and at least I'll be there to share the load. I can't say enough to thank the people who have helped us."