FRIENDS of a holidaymaker seriously injured in a hot-air balloon crash in Egypt have paid tribute to her bravery.

Former police officer Linda Lea should have been presenting a talk on the Pendle Witch Trials at a craft and spirituality fair in Leek on Saturday.

But the 63-year-old remains in the University Hospital of North Staffordshire recovering from her broken spine and broken collarbone and shin.

However, she still helped to co-ordinate the fair at The Swan pub, in St Edward Street, from her hospital bed.

Mrs Lea, who lives in Brown Edge and serves on Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, had been in a balloon above the city of Luxor when it hit a mobile communications tower and plummeted 30ft to the ground during her holiday on April 25.

Her friends, Deb Jones and Caroline Frost, both took part in A Moorland Gathering and helped with the last-minute preparations.

Mrs Jones, who lives in Leek, said: "We have been to the hospital to see Linda and take instructions, and she has still been very much involved from her hospital bed.

"I stepped in to do a talk on simple spell-casting because Linda wasn't able to be here.

"She's very frustrated because she's stuck in bed and she's the type of person who wants to be up and about. She's suffered a lot of pain, but she's managing to keep a smile on her face.

"This was only the second event Linda had organised in Leek, so it's a shame she could not be here to enjoy it after all her hard work. We all wish her a speedy recovery.

"She's a strong person, so although she has a long road ahead, I'm confident she'll make a full recovery."

Mrs Frost, from Norton Green, who was running a jewellery stall, said: "It was a shock when we heard what happened to Linda. Because she was in another country, we felt isolated because we didn't know what was going on.

"Now she's back in North Staffordshire, it's much better and people can visit her.

"Since The Sentinel's story about Linda's accident, a lot of people have been very worried about her. She's very dear to a lot of people."