A YOUNG woman who nearly died in a riding accident is embarking on her new career after acting as an "inspiration" to others and being chosen for the star role in a TV programme about head injuries.

Twenty-two-year-old Sarah Kemp is starting a three-year university nursing diploma course in two weeks time after months of dedicated work for Riding for the Disabled and for a centre that supports people suffering from head injuries.

Her story and contribution to the Headway organisation branch in Stourport has attracted national attention within the charity which has asked her to star in a Sky Television programme about its work.

Filming is due to start in Nottingham before the end of the month.

Sarah from Offmore Farm, Kidderminster, is also saying a special goodbye to Murphy, a 15-hands Riding for the Disabled horse, who is a favourite with the riders she has cared for and is the horse that gave her the confidence to ride again.

Sarah cannot remember the accident in July last year that kept her in hospital for nearly three weeks and in a wheelchair for even longer.

Her head injuries were so serious she was unconscious for more than a week and had to learn to speak and walk again.

Headway House staff have been amazed at her bravery. She even took part in a sponsored fund-raising abseil for the centre and raised £200.

Sarah, who had to delay for a year the place she gained before the accident at the University of Wolverhampton, said: "I always wanted to be a nurse and the accident made me more determined. Everybody has been so good to me it made me realise how much I wanted to do it."

Of her return to riding at the Debdale Equine Centre at Cookley, Sarah said: "I was really scared the first time but I rode the same horse some of the disabled people were riding and he was wonderful because I knew he wouldn't do anything wrong."

Sarah has been taking people with learning difficulties from Kidderminster's O'Dell Centre for riding sessions at Cookley and O'Dell manager Margaret Borkowski said: "Sarah has worked very hard here and we wish her every success. She has been a special asset in the riding sessions which are very therapeutic for those here that take part."

Headway House co-ordinator Simone Buzink said Sarah would be "greatly missed".

"She has been an inspiration here, always cheerful, and excellent to have around when we needed help with computers and pottery."