EIGHT people were inside a car which careered off the road and rolled onto its roof in Freshwater, a court heard today (Friday).

One passenger suffered a compound leg fracture in the horrific accident in Colwell Road on July 9.

Willow Hughes-Thomas, 30, of Clarendon Road, Shanklin, admitted one charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and a further offence of drink driving, when she appeared before Isle of Wight magistrates.

They heard, at around 2.30am, a passing ambulance discovered the vehicle which had careered off the road and was on its roof.

The court was told Hughes-Thomas was not excessively over the drink drive limit but there had been eight people in the Citroen C1 at the time, which may have affected its stability.

The seriously injured passenger said he had very little memory of what happened.

When he regained consciousness, the vehicle was upside down and empty.

He looked down at his leg and could see the bone protruding, said Vivian Ducie prosecuting.

Hughes-Thomas, of previous good character, blew a reading of 61 mgs of alcohol in 100 mls of breath, the legal limit is 35.

For Hughes-Thomas, Barry Arnett said all the people in the car had been willing participants and his client had had no intention of letting them into the vehicle.

They had been out together and she did not think she was over the limit.

However, they said they were not going far and she gave them a lift.

Mr Arnett said: "There were at least four in the back. There is no suggestion she was speeding. She accepted it was dangerous to drive with that number of people.

"She said no, but they said they would be all right."

The case was adjourned for sentence until December 21 at the Isle of Wight Crown Court.

Magistrates imposed an interim driving ban and granted her bail.