A 12-YEAR-OLD girl who was hit by a car returned home from hospital on Christmas Day.

Joanna Yates, a year seven pupil at Canon Slade School, in Bradshaw, was involved in an accident with a car close to Broadoak Park Garden Centre in Worsley Road, Worsley, just before 8am on Friday, December 14, while on her way to school.

Doctors thought she would be in hospital for several weeks, but she was well enough to be discharged on Christmas Day.

The girl, from Monton, Eccles, was hit by a purple Ford Ka driven by a woman.

Her dance teacher, Joanne Farnell, said: “She has a long way to go with her recovery because she suffered many fractures to her body.

“We thought she was going to be in hospital for three or four weeks but she is now home, she was released on Christmas Day which is a bit of a Christmas miracle.

“She had an operation on her shoulder on Christmas Eve and she has got a neck brace.”

The week before the crash she took her grade two ballet exam and got a highly commended.

Police are appealing for anyone who saw the accident to contact them on 0161 856 4742.