A motorcyclist whose leg was shattered in a crash says she is glad to be alive after she was left lying in the road in “excruciating” pain.

Hair and make-up artist Sammy Jo Robertson was on her way home from work at Canterbury College when the accident happened.

She remains in the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford awaiting major surgery to repair a fractured left fibia and tibia and remove pieces of broken bone from her knee joint.

Sammy Jo, 28, who is also a wig maker, was riding her Suzuki 125 out of Canterbury along Sturry Road at the time of the crash.

As she neared the Mercedes garage she was filtering through stationary traffic when she says she was hit by a car pulling out from the left.

The road was closed until 6pm, sparking long rush-hour tailbacks while medics attended to the injured rider

Sammy Jo said: “I was on my way home to Manston from the college, where I teach further education courses, when it happened.

“I tried to swerve out of the way but couldn’t avoid the car and was hit.

“I was lying in the road in excruciating pain but would like to thank the paramedics who were wonderful and kept me calm while my clothing was cut so they could assess my injuries.

“One of them even phoned the hospital afterwards to check how I was doing.

“It seems a major operation with pins and plates followed by months of physio is on the cards for me.

“I feel in a bit of a state and have been sick three times.

“But I am just glad to be alive. There are so many helpful and caring people around still, including the lovely lady who called my mum for me.”