A woman left confined to a wheelchair after being struck by a van during her newspaper round was today awarded agreed £1.75 million damages.

A judge at the High Court in London heard that Sarah Miles, now 23, was 14 when the accident happened as she cycled along the A267 at Five Ashes, near Crowborough, in June 1993.

Her barrister, Howard Shaw, told Mr Justice Wright that Sarah, from Five Ashes, was left with "severe injuries from the accident".

He said: "She is confined to a wheelchair and has little use in her legs.

"Luckily, her personality hasn't really changed and she is - although on occasion understandably depressed - still a sparky lady with a good sense of humour."

Mr Shaw praised Sarah's father Peter and brother David, who were both present in court. He said her father had devoted his life to her since the accident.

The judge described it as a "tragic" case and said he was happy to approve the settlement sum.

Sarah's damages claim was brought against the estate of the van driver, Michael John Smith, of Chatham, Kent, who died in December 1994; his employers; and John Pope, trading as Bucks Newsagents, High Street, Mayfield.