Phoenix rises for south Warwickshire actress after devastating car crash

But, just over a year on, the young mum - whose 12-week-old baby George and pregnant friend had been in the car with her on the day of the crash - has created a new puppet theatre business that has so far been warmly welcomed by audiences.

Amelia, who is now godmother to the baby of the friend she was travelling with that day in May last year, said she feels lucky that she was the only one in the car who was hurt.

It had been a drunk driver who crashed into her car, the front of which was crushed by the impact.

Amelia’s foot injury was so serious that she had to be on crutches until December and was unable to carry little George for seven months. Although she can now walk unaided, she still feels pain and has a limp.

She said: “I was really traumatised. My time with my baby was taken away from me. Now I am getting my life back.”

Having designed six puppets, which were painted by her sister Debbie Deeming, and a small theatre, Amelia has written her own stories and songs and launched her first performances - all of them solo - at Mary Arden’s Farm near Stratford.

Show in August and September will be filmed for screenings on YouTube and Amelia is hoping the project - aimed at children up to the age of seven - will progress on to become a television show.

She said: “I am still a full-time mum but I work on this project every evening. It’s been going really well.

“Because I limp, I have created a really small stage so it’s not an issue. Children are very observant, so if I was moving around a lot, they would want to know why I walk funny.

“There are six puppets and the first letter of their names spells out ‘castle’. Each one has its own personality and they play parts in different stories.”

She added: “The day of the crash was the worst day of my life - but this is the new bit.

“I thought my career was over and in a way it is. I cannot go on tour acting any more. But this is the perfect new beginning for me. It’s like the phoenix rising from the ashes.

“I have loved seeing the children’s reactions to the live performances so far. It’s quirky and funny and real - there are no special effects or computer-generated imagery.”

To see the programme of performances and to book Castle Small for private parties, visit www.castlesmall.co.uk or search for the business on Facebook.