A six-year-old girl whose face was scarred in a traffic accident on her way back home from school was awarded almost €30,000 damages yesterday.

The money will have to be paid by the man driving the van she was travelling in and, the bulk of it, by a second driver who caused the accident.

The parents of six-year-old Angelique Attard sued van driver Ray Xerri and Wafaa Muscat Es Samlaly, holding them responsible for the girl's facial scars and seven per cent disability.

In January 2004, the girl was on her way back from school, St Dorothy's in Żebbuġ, when a car driven by Ms Muscat Es Samlaly emerged from a side street. The two vehicles collided in St Aristarkus Road, St Paul's Bay and the van crashed against a side wall at speed.

Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco said it was clear that Ms Muscat Es Samlaly was bound to give way to the van on the main road but the van driver also had to keep a proper lookout.

The judge concluded that Ms Muscat Es Samlaly carried an 80 per cent responsibility for the accident and Mr Xerri had 20 per cent.

He awarded Angelique Attard €29,667.48 damages and ordered Ms Muscat Es Samlaly to pay €23,333.98 and Mr Xerri to pay €5,833.50.