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 horrific incident, 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 rest at one point, but resumed her fall, and by the time she finally came to a halt, was unconscious.

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

Now back at home in East Lodge Gardens, Kirkleatham, Redcar, 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 enjoyed walking 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.

"It was just after the foot-and-mouth restrictions had been lifted that myself, two girlfriends and one of their husbands decided to have a run out," she said.

"I was itching to get back."

She said that despite her ordeal and its effects on her husband and two daughters, she can't 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."