A CLIMBER who was badly hurt in a 300ft plunge from a mountain has vowed to continue her hobby.

But Beryl Hunt, who spent 11 days in hospital following the accident, plans to stick to lower levels in future.

Mrs Hunt was climbing Helvellyn, in the Lake District, with three friends when she believes a ledge gave way, sending her tumbling down the rocky terrain.

She came to a stop, but then fell further. By the time she came to a halt, Mrs Hunt was unconscious.

An hour-and-a-half later, the 58-year-old was airlifted to hospital, in Carlisle, Cumbria. She was treated for a broken leg, two cracked ribs, a crushed vertebrae and a cracked shoulder bone, as well as cuts to the head and severe bruising.

Now back home in, Kirkleatham, Redcar, east Cleveland, Mrs Hunt has been told not to put weight on her leg for three months, to allow a steel plate to help it heal.

Last night, she said her memories of the accident were disjointed.

"I just kept thinking 'I can't stop, I can't stop,'" she said. "I was just rolling over and over. I was in shock. Then I probably just blacked out, as the next thing I remember is people being around me.

"It could have been a lot worse - the mountain rescue team said that most people would have suffered internal injuries."

The bank clerk, who has been a keen walker for 15 years and climbed Helvellyn twice before, said she embarked on the trip as soon as foot-and-mouth restrictions were relaxed last month.

"Myself, two girlfriends and one of their husbands decided to have a run out," said Mrs Hunt.

"I was itching to get back."

She said that despite her ordeal, and its effects on her husband and two daughters, she cannot imagine never climbing again.

"I go out every Sunday without exception and this hasn't put me off at all," she said.

"But I probably won't do the high peaks again - I'll just stick to the lower levels.