Better than winning the lottery - that is how Michelle Roberts described hearing her son Will speak for the first time since suffering severe head injuries.

Former Canterbury High School pupil Will, 17, has been in hospital in London since he was hit by a car in Dover last month.

He took the brunt of the collision after pushing his girlfriend out of the way.

Michelle, 36, from Querns Road, Canterbury, said she is on “cloud nine” after Will croaked the word “mum” on Monday.

“It was indescribable,” she said. “I was by his bed and he croaked something.

“I asked him, 'did you say mum? He said 'mum’ and then 'yes’ when I asked him if he knew who I was.

“It is like all my Christmases have come at once.”

Will, known as Big Will to friends, faces lengthy rehabilitation.

•For full interview, plus the family’s appeal to make Will’s 18th birthday extra special, see this week’s Kentish Gazette