BATTLING mum Michelle Williams has shown the first signs of recovery since she was seriously injured in a road accident 12 days ago.

The mother-of-two has undergone more than 15 hours of surgery and remains unconscious in the intensive care unit at Hope Hospital in Salford.

But she is now breathing on her own with only basic support from a ventilator, which has given her parents renewed hope she could pull through. An unknown infection is, however, hampering her battle for survival.

Her father, Garry Williams, of Ulundi Street, Radcliffe, said: "Michelle is still fighting. Her condition is still giving cause for concern but she has shown some signs of improvement.

"She is mainly breathing on her own with some assistance from the ventilator. She is also off sedation but remains unconscious. It could be some time before she comes round."

Michelle, of Knowles Street, Radcliffe, was crossing Water Street on the evening of January 31 -- her 28th birthday -- when she was in collision with a Ford Orion.

She collided with the off-side of the vehicle and thrown head first through its windscreen. The former Radcliffe High School pupil suffered severe head and chest injuries, a shattered pelvis, and two broken legs. CCTV footage of Water Street has been viewed by police as part of their accident investigation.

Sergeant John Jamieson, from Bury Traffic Unit, said: "The footage shows Michelle starting to cross Water Street and also shows the car but the actual impact happened off camera."

The driver, a 23-year-old local man, provided a negative breath-test at the scene.

Michelle's mum, Trixie, said: "Last week I thought I had lost her but we are now a lot more hopeful that her condition will further improve. We are keeping our fingers crossed that she will survive. She is a real fighter."