A YOUNG girl seriously hurt in a Boxing Day car crash on a notorious stretch of the A64 near York has begun to recover from her injuries.

Amylee Swinger, aged eight, was stable today in Leeds General Infirmary after being taken off the critical list, a spokeswoman said.

The West Yorkshire girl suffered a collapsed lung and internal injuries after a Volvo car being driven by her father, Martin, was in collision with a red Rover 400 on the A64 at Whitwell-on-the-Hill.

Another passenger in the Malton-bound Volvo, Sharon Doherty, 24, of Seaforth, Liverpool, was killed in the collision.

A police spokesman said Amylee had made a "big improvement", but continued to suffer digestive problems.

Updated: 12:14 Thursday, January 02, 2003