A nurse who was left tragically disabled by a stroke following an allegedly botched beauty treatment has settled her £1.2m High Court damages claim.

Elizabeth Hughes, 50, suffered the stroke only days after she had a facial treatment at Eastwell Manor, near Ashford, in Kent, in 2011.

She collapsed while on holiday in Wales and was rushed to hospital, but not soon enough to save her from a lifetime of disability.

Mrs Hughes, of Gosport, Hants, was left with a weakened arm, poor balance and prone to falls, making her reliant on her husband for care.

And the NHS nurse also had to retire from her job at Gosport’s Haslar Prison.

Blaming the stroke on the facial treatment, she sued Eastwell Manor Limited for damages, which her lawyers said could top £1.2m.

"She immediately felt pain and complained. The next day she found that her neck was swollen" - James Glasper

Her solicitor, James Glasper, alleged that the stroke had been caused by dissection of her carotid artery, which an expert put down to the massage.

A trial of her claim was due to begin at the High Court on Monday but was called off after negotiations resulted in a confidential settlement.

In papers put before the court, Mr Glasper said Mrs Hughes had gone to the Dreams salon at Eastwell Manor for a Ladies Stress Eliminator treatment.

While giving her the treatment, the therapist rubbed her thumbs forcefully along the sides of Mrs Hughes’ neck, he claimed.

“She immediately felt pain and complained,” he added.

“The next day she found that her neck was swollen. The pain did not abate and continued to persist for the following seven days.

“On or around 22 January, 2011, she, whilst on holiday in north Wales, developed symptoms consistent with a stroke.”

Alleging negligence, he claimed that massaging Mrs Hughes’ neck was ‘unnecessary’ and that an ‘unreasonable’ level of force was applied.

The effect on Mrs Hughes was devastating. As well as her physical problems, she was left prone to laughing or crying at inappropriate moments, he said.

Lawyers for Eastwell Manor were due to contest the claim for compensation, insisting that the therapist had not massaged Mrs Hughes’ neck at all.

They told the High Court at a preliminary hearing that the therapist had done nothing out of the ordinary.

A spokesman confirmed there had been a settlement but said it would not be ‘appropriate’ to comment further. The details of the settlement have not been disclosed.