A WOMAN who suffered life-threatening injuries and lost her leg in the wake of an horrific crash has lodged a £300,000 claim for damages at the High Court.

A WOMAN who suffered life-threatening injuries and lost her leg in the wake of an horrific crash has lodged a £300,000 claim for damages at the High Court.

Jillian and Charles Macready, of Wyken Road in Stanton, near Bury St Edmunds, were in their Citroen ZX on the A143 at Great Barton on January 4, 2004 when they were in collision with a Jaguar XK8 driven by Owen Lloyd of Diss.

Mrs Macready, 49, suffered numerous injuries, including having to her right leg amputated below the knee.

Her 52-year-old husband was also injured and his left leg is now shorter than his right.

The couple, who run a vineyard on the Ickworth Estate, have now issued a writ at the Royal Courts of Justice for personal injury, loss and damage as a result of what they claim was negligent driving by Mr Lloyd.

Apart from confirming the writ had been filed, Mrs Macready said she was unable to discuss the case at the present time.

The couple, in their High Court writ, told how Mrs Macready spent more than a month in hospital after sustaining chest injuries, bone fractures, a bowel injury and partial dissection of her right iliac artery which led to the loss of her leg.

The writ said: “The first claimant's mobility is thus impaired by her right, below knee amputation. Her ability to pursue pre-injury interests in gardening, running a small vineyard and country walks is significantly impaired.

“She is impaired in the activities of daily living and will be assisted by a variety of aids and equipment.”

According to the writ, Mr Macready was working as a driving instructor at the time of the crash, after which he was left with chest injuries, a broken leg, a fractured pelvis a fractured clavicle and a major head injury.

The writ said Mr Macready “has generally made a good recovery from his orthopaedic injuries. He suffers some pain in the left femur and discomfort in the left knee and the left leg is 1.5cm shorter than on the right.”

But the writ also states Mr Macready suffered a “major closed head injury” which has caused “substantial pre and post-traumatic amnesia”.

In the writ the couple said: “He has not returned to work as a driving instructor but has had a number of periods of short term or part time, light, straightforward work.

“His enjoyment of working in the vineyard managed together with his wife is limited by loss of his sense of smell and taste, lack of motivation and fatigue.

“His ability to pursue a pre-injury interest in playing the piano, reading books or watching films is limited by reduced memory, concentration and ability to learn new information.”

The EADT could not contact Mr Lloyd for comment last night.

A date is yet to be set for the case to be heard.