The heartbroken mum of a Bradford girl who died following a Bank Holiday crash on her way back from the seaside has described how she chose to switch off her daughter's life-support.

Fighting back tears, Marion Hudson told the T&A how letting doctors switch off the machines keeping her 11-year-old daughter alive was the most painful decision she had ever had to make.

Natasha Barker suffered massive head injuries after the car she was in broke down on the way back from an Easter weekend away with her best friend's family in Scarborough on Monday.

She had been in the back seat with her friend Chloe Gray when a lorry and two cars towing caravans ploughed into the car which had been parked on the verge of the A64 near Malton.

Natasha, a pupil at Rhodesway School, Allerton, was flown by air ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary where doctors battled to save her.

Brain scans revealed Natasha would not survive her injuries and doctors warned her family to expect the worse.

Marion, 34, who has two other daughters Jodie, 13 and Chantelle, 14, said: "Natasha had been unconscious throughout. The doctors at the hospital told us from the start that the signs were bad and we had to prepare ourselves. They said we could either watch her deteriorate or switch off the machines.

"We had to let her go. It was the most painful decision I have ever had to make but really there was no choice."

Doctors switched off Natasha's life-support just before midnight on Monday - less than 11 hours after the crash.

Speaking from the family home in Charteris Road, Lower Grange, Miss Hudson said her thoughts were also with the Grant family who had taken Natasha away on the short-break.

"She'd been having a sleep-over at Chloe's house when she was invited to go with them to Scarborough. She came home on the Friday to pick up some clothes and that was the last time I saw her. She was excited and being her usual loud self," she said.

The first she knew of the accident was when Chloe's mum, Mandy Grant, rang from the roadside telling her Natasha had banged her head but was going to be alright.

"She didn't know how bad she was and told me not to panic.

"The next thing I knew was when Mandy rang to say Natasha was at Leeds and her son would come and give me a lift. It was only when I got to the A&E department that I realised it was serious.

"I don't blame anyone for what happened. Chloe's mum and dad must feel awful but I don't want them to feel guilty."

Natasha's sisters have already been to visit Chloe, also 11, at her home just one street away in Raven Terrace to comfort her.

"As a family we are all looking after each other and trying to keep ourselves busy. It's first thing in the morning and at night when everyone is asleep and the house is still that I feel this has all really happened and I break down," said Marion.

North Yorkshire police are still appealing for witnesses who saw the red Mercedes-Benz Natasha was in pulling over.

In particular they want to hear from the occupants of a white caravanette and a car towing a caravan who may have seen the accident.

Anyone who can help should ring the police on (01723) 509555.