THE mother of a woman seriously injured in an horrific car crash says she is praying for her recovery.

Florence Pearce told the Argus her world had been turned upside down since she learned her daughter and son-in-law - Marie and David Cheedy, both aged 59 - had been involved in a serious crash at Goytre on Tuesday.

Mr and Mrs Cheedy, of Blaendare Road, Pontypool, were travelling on the A4042 between Abergavenny's Hardwick roundabout and Mamhilad when their Fiat Tipo was involved in a head-on collision with a Mazda car.

The Mazda driver - Frank Nash, 55, from Llandewi Rhydderch, near Abergavenny, is stable in intensive care at the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport.

Mrs Cheedy suffered serious injuries and is also being treated at at the Royal Gwent. Mr Cheedy was less seriously hurt and remains at Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny, Mrs Pearce, also of Blaendare Road, Pontypool, said: "I am just praying to God that they will soon get better and come back home."

Surgeons at the Royal Gwent Hospital have told Mrs Pearce they hope to save her daughter's foot, which was crushed in the accident.

Mrs Cheedy, who also needed surgery for a knee injury, has a broken hip and extensive facial injuries.

Mrs Pearce said: "Fortunately she has not suffered any brain damage or internal bleeding but she is not expected to be out of the hospital for another three months. It is such a worrying time for us all."

Mr Cheedy suffered a broken ankle, broken ribs and facial injuries and is expected to be discharged from hospital in three weeks.

Mr and Mrs Cheedy's son Richard, had to track down his brothers, Barry and Paul, to tell them of the crash.

Paul, who serves in the RAF, immediately flew home from an air base in Cyprus. Barry, a waiter on the QE2, made the trip home from Boston where the cruise liner was docked.

The collision occurred near the Secret Garden nursery at Mamhilad on the notorious stretch of the A4042 Abergavenny to Pontypool road which has seen five fatal accidents in three years.