A 17-YEAR-OLD girl remains in a coma following an skiing accident three weeks ago has been flown home to the North-East.

Nicola Smales, 17, was flown into Newcastle by Medivac and taken to an undisclosed hospital in the area.

Her condition remains the same and she is described as "stable, but in a coma".

Nicola was left unconscious after she fell as she made her way down the slopes.

The freak accident happened on the last descent of the holiday in the Austrian resort of Treffen.

Nicola was among 37 students and four staff on the Alps trip from St Joseph's School, in Hebburn, South Tyneside.

It is understood she hit a patch of ice and tumbled, causing head injuries. She was with a nationally-qualified instructor at the time.

Her parents flew to the resort and have been at her bedside.