Students and staff are praying for a popular teacher who was mown down in a car accident.

Grainne Feeney, media studies teacher at East Brighton College of Media Arts, suffered multiple injuries when she was hit by a car on Brighton seafront.

She was taken by ambulance and admitted to the intensive care unit at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton.

Ms Feeney has since been transferred to another ward.

She underwent surgery at the hospital yesterday and her condition was said to be improving.

The college's headteacher, Dr Jill Clough, said pupils and staff were devastated.

She said: "Grainne is such a popular and appealing person.

"There have been so many requests to visit her and we have had to organise a rota to ensure she is not overwhelmed.

"This was a dreadful accident and Grainne sustained a considerable number of serious injuries including a broken pelvis.

"Grainne said she had been deeply touched by all the visits and the warmth of all the get-well messages.

"She said they had helped her morale and helped her come to terms with what has happened to her."

Students have been making cards and sending flowers and Ms Feeney's mother travelled to Brighton to be with her daughter.

The accident happened at 2.41am on the jubilee bank holiday, June 3, in King's Road, Brighton.

All of Ms Feeney's GCSE students have rallied to wish her a speedy recovery.

Their course work had been completed and exams had been sat earlier in the term.

Graham Parker, media studies graduate and a friend of Ms Feeney, has been helping fill in the timetable gap at the college.

Dr Clough praised Ms Feeney and told how much students respect and love her.

She said: "Grainne recently organised a performance by students at Concorde II in Marine Parade.

"Parents, a councillor and Brighton MP David Lepper came to watch the singing and band playing.

"It was tremendous and highly successful."