THE show must go on for Carol Richardson, even if it has taken her seven years to return to the stage after a serious car accident.

This week Carol, who lives at Copmanthorpe, is performing in York Light Opera Society's summer show, Songs From The Century, at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre - her first production with the company since 1993.

On March 14 that year, she was a passenger in her husband Tim's car on the York outer ring road when it was in collision with a car whose 83-year-old driver had suffered a blackout. Such was the impact that Carol ended up in the boot with the engine on top of her.

"I had to be cut out by a fire crew: I was unconscious, so I don't remember anything about it, and then I was in the intensive care unit at York District Hospital for a week," she said.

She broke both thighs, had to have a plate inserted in her left arm from her shoulder to her elbow, and severed a major artery. "The hospital told my dad I was going to lose a leg, and I was later told I would never dance again and that I'd never sing again because I'd suffered a serious head injury," said Carol.

She has proved the experts wrong, although the path to recovery has been long. Initially in hospital for ten weeks, she then had to learn to walk again, and between 1993 and 1997 she had 14 operations in all.

As soon as she was fit enough, Carol had a baby - daughter Gabrielle is now 20 months old - and this year she has returned to the stage, her passion since teenage days.

In April, she made her comeback as Betty Brown in New Earswick Operatic Society's production of No, No, Nanette at the Rowntree Theatre. "It was brilliant to be back on stage and a good confidence builder," she said.

However, her objective was always to rejoin the ranks of York Light Opera Society, which she first joined 17 years ago when she was 18. She admits she was nervous ahead of the first night on Monday, as she prepared to sing Waiting At The Church, the Friendship song-and-dance routine from Anything Goes, and Sleeping On Your own from Martin Guerre.

"I definitely did have doubts that I'd be able to return to the stage: it was the physical side of things, the self image, but it's been wonderful," she said. "Above all, I want to say a big thank-you to the firemen, the nurses, and the doctor, Peter De Boer."

Next, Carol is making plans to appear in Annie, York Light's first production of 2001 at York Theatre Royal. In the meantime, she can be seen in Songs From The Century at the Rowntree Theatre today. Performances are at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. For tickets telephone 01904 623568.