STROKING one of the wild's most fearsome creatures, Margaret Hoyle Fox smiles for the camera. But only seconds later, the cheetah she had been encouraged to touch would scar her for life.

Now the North Yorkshire woman has won a court battle for compensation - four years after being mauled by the beast in a wildlife park in South Africa.

Mrs Hoyle Fox was visiting the Cango Wildlife Ranch, in Oudtshoorn, in July 1998, when she entered the cheetah enclosure.

The ranch brochure allegedly encouraged visitors to "touch a furry friend". A tour guide also told the party that the animals were like a "domesticated cat".

In the High Court, in Cape Town, on Monday, lawyers for Mrs Hoyle Fox won a fight to force the ranch owners to accept liability for the attack.

A separate case will be heard in the future to determine the level of compensation she receives.

Speaking to the Evening Press from her hotel in South Africa, Mrs Hoyle Fox said she was delighted with the result.

She said she had suffered continuing problems since the cheetah attacked her leg, ripping open a wound that required 28 stitches and years of physiotherapy.

"This was an excellent result. I didn't have any doubts about touching the cheetah. All the information they give you tells you that it is the most natural thing in the world to do. So I didn't have any problem."

Mrs Hoyle Fox, of Huby, near Easingwold, said she had suffered considerably since the attack and had been forced to take nine months off work.

"It has been horrendous. I still suffer. There is pain in the leg and I have problems with circulation," she said.

"I had left it for quite a while. It got to a stage where I didn't think it was going to get any better.

"I thought that it wasn't right, it shouldn't have happened and someone had to be responsible."

She was represented at the hearing by Simon Middleton and Clive Garner, of national law firm Irwin Mitchell.

Mr Garner said: "Despite the defendants' continued denials of liability, the evidence of a leading expert, who confirmed that cheetahs will always retain their wild instincts, was crucial in winning the case.

"Although the full amount has yet to be confirmed, they agreed to compensate Mrs Hoyle Fox for her injuries.

"She still bears the physical and emotional scars of this horrific attack, but she is a determined and courageous lady who is now keen to rebuild her life."

Mrs Hoyle Fox said: "I don't want anyone else to suffer. I went back and it was exactly the same. Hopefully, this result will change the situation."

Updated: 11:34 Friday, August 23, 2002