MONEY raised to help pay the medical bills of an injured teenager stranded in Turkey will be split between good causes after a U-turn by insurers.

Post Office bosses finally backed down and agreed to cover Sarah Webster's £20,000 medical costs.

And they will also stump up the cash needed to fly the teenager back home by air ambulance.

The show jumping enthusiast from Cricklade suffered horrific injuries two weeks ago after falling 30ft from a hotel balcony while in the Turkish resort of Marmaris.

Since the Adver broke the story, readers have been donating cash to a specially set-up account at Nation-wide. Funds, which were originally going to be used to pay for Sarah's bills, could now be divided between the groups which have helped her.

"We have all been overwhelmed by the support," said Sarah's sister Harriet Gray.

"We'll have to wait until Sarah gets back before a decision is made but some of the money may go to the physiotherapy unit at Great Western Hospital, the air ambulance crew and riding for the disabled.

"Some funds will probably go out to Turkey because we could not have wished for better care."

Sarah had been told her holiday insurance taken out with the Post Office was not valid because she had been drinking.

But senior hospital staff have repeatedly admitted that no medical tests had been carried out to determine the alcohol levels in her body at the time of the accident.

Now her delighted parents, Pat and Scott, who are at her bedside, say an air ambulance is scheduled to fly her to Swindon's GWH either today or tomorrow.

She will be flown to Staverton in a private jet.

Mrs Gray, 30, of Highworth, said the family were now preparing for her return. "We're delighted medical costs have been covered but this does not compensate for the emotional strain and mental anguish we have been through," he said

Ben Payne