A FORMER Greenmount Primary School teacher whose memory of her wedding day was wiped following a horrific car crash has relived her big day.

Mrs Rachel Austen (29) suffered horrific injuries in a motorway crash when returning home from work in March of 1999. The accident left her with post-traumatic amnesia and unable to work again.

However, earlier this month Mrs Austen walked down the aisle for the second time with her husband Daniel to renew their vows at St Anne's Church, Ambergate, Yorkshire. Reverend Bob Pagett who conducted the original ceremony was joined by Canon Noel Proctor, the hospital chaplain who visited Rachel in hospital. Friend and former colleague Alison Adam, who now teaches at Tottington South Primary School, was a bridesmaid at the wedding.

Instead of gifts guests donated money which went to Floyd Unit in Birch Hill Hospital, Rochdale, where Mrs Austen went for rehabilitation and to Alfreton's proposed mobility scheme.

Mr Peter Parker, head of Greenmount Primary School, said: "We are very proud of Rachel. She was given so much support from people in the area, even those who did not know her.

"She started her career at this school but it was unfortunately cut short because of the accident. Rachel has been very brave and still keeps in touch with the school.

Mrs Austen was involved in a three-car accident on the M60 at junction 18 eastbound at Simister. Her car crashed into the central reservation and somersaulted on to its roof.

A passing doctor stopped to tend to the teacher until paramedics arrived on the scene.

Mrs Austen suffered brain damage and she was left disabled down the left side.

She spent two months at North Manchester General Hospital followed by six months of rehabilitation to re-learn everything.

Soon after the accident she moved from the area to Ripley, in Yorkshire, her home town.