When brother and sister figure skaters Harry and Alice Mattick take to the ice today, competing with youngsters from across Britain, their mum Katy will watch with a heart-filled with pride.

For she knows how far they have come since a terrible accident which left them both unable to walk.

In June 1999 the children, pictured, suffered appalling injuries in a road crash that killed their father Robert, 39.

Doctors feared Alice would never walk again after she suffered serious leg injuries which left her with no feeling from the knees down.

Her knees were dismantled and she lost parts of her thighs when bones broke through her skin. Surgeons at St James's Hospital in Leeds, where she was treated, thought she may lose her legs but managed to save them with a variety of metal implants, screws, plates and pins.

Alice, 11, was in the operating theatre for hours then spent time in intensive care. Once home, she was confined to bed and went on to have several more operations.

Alice also fractured her jaw and suffered head injuries which affected her concentration and sense of time.

Harry, nine, broke an arm and a leg and suffered serious head injuries. Both children had to use wheelchairs when they returned to school. Harry's leg injuries were less severe than his sister's but within two months of the car smash she was already starting to walk.

Her progress amazed the doctors who had treated her, although she still used her wheelchair when she felt weak.

But it was a school trip to Bradford Ice Arena two years ago that really made a difference.

"They sat Alice in the wheelchair at the side of the rink and she was really angry that she couldn't go on with the other children," said Alice's mum, Katy Mattick.

"After that I took her back to the rink and we put skates on and I held her up under her arms and let her have her first go on the skates. She loved it. It was like a toddler learning to walk.

"I started taking her and Harry to Fun Skates sessions and they both got the bug. It was amazing watching them skate."

Alice said: " I was terrified at first but now I love it. If anyone tells me I can't do something, then I want to do it.

"I love the speed which I can get which I can't get from running.

" I feel as though I am flying, as though my feet aren't on the ground."

Harry, added: "I love my routine, it's Star Wars. I get tired after about an hour so I come often for a short time."

The youngsters, now both members of Bradford Ice Skating Club, went on to take part in several figure skating competitions and today they were competing in their first Bradford Open. The competition, open to children aged eight to 17, has attracted 160 entries from across Britain.

Mrs Mattick believes the balance and poise involved with skating has helped the children to rehabilitate and grow more confident.

"To say they've only been skating for two years and they shouldn't even be walking, this is a fantastic achievement. They have been through such a lot and have shown amazing spirit.

"Skating has been brilliant physio for them.

"They skate every morning before school for short stretches because they don't have the strength to do longer sessions like other children.

"The ice arena has played an important role in their rehabilitation. Their instructors, Uri Brekhov and Susan Hughes, have been fantastic.

"Alice is registered disabled but whenever anyone says to her that skating is a nice hobby she says: "It's not a hobby - it's my life."

Co-director of Bradford Ice Arena, Christina Rogers, said: "Alice and Harry are very special children. They have so much courage and determination.

"Skating is all about precision and requires a lot of dedication and discipline. Alice and Harry have been so determined to meet new goals that for them skating has gone beyond rehabilitation."