A former Inverness beauty queen is keeping a bedside vigil for her mother and son after they were left badly injured in a serious crash in the Highlands.
Julie Hughes has been watching over the pair since they were taken to hospital along with three others following the accident on the Cromarty bridge.
The 35-year-old mum from Alness urged friends to pray for her seven-year-old son Josh and his grandmother Mo yesterday as they began the long fight back to recovery.
Ms Hughes had only just relinquished the Ms Inverness title at the weekend after deciding to use the contest as a platform to raise money for sick children.
Her mother and son were in her white Audi A1 car when it was involved in the three-car smash on the bridge, which carries the Inverness-Thurso road across the Cromarty firth, on Sunday evening.
The Audi burst into flames moments after Mrs Hughes and her grandson managed to escape.
The pair were treated by medics at the scene before being admitted to the high dependency unit at Raigmore hospital in Inverness.
Ms Hughes runs her own salon, Blush Beauty, in her home town, where her son is a pupil at Bridgend Primary.
She won the Ms Inverness crown – for entrants aged over 30 – in May 2014 and handed over the title on Friday when a new beauty queen was chosen.
Yesterday her partner, Hugh Winton, told friends on a social networking site: “She’s so grateful for all your messages and support. We’ve not had much chance to reply to messages.
“Josh went into theatre this morning and is doing well. Her mum is in theatre now. A long road to recovery but Julie says the Hughes’ are fighters and they’ll get through this.”
Earlier, Ms Hughes wrote: “They’re both in high dependency units at Raigmore Hospital. I won’t be at work for a few days as I will not be leaving Josh and will try and see mum as often as I can.
“I am not religious but please pray for my family.”
Highland councillor Maxine Smith, who runs her own beauty salon in Invergordon and knows Ms Hughes through the trade, said: “I have heard about the unfortunate accident with the family and I hope they both make a full recovery. Julie will be taking some time off work to look after her son.”
Police last night appealed for witnesses to the crash to come forward.
A spokesman said all of the occupants of the three cars had been taken to hospital for treatment and Ms Hughes’ son and mother and the driver and passenger of a blue Renault Clio had been kept in.
The driver of a red Seat Leon suffered minor injuries and was discharged on Sunday.
A police spokeswoman said: “Their injuries are serious but not believed to be life threatening.
“If anyone has any information about the incident they are encouraged to contact police on 101.”
Calls for improving the bridge’s safety have heightened following Sunday’s crash.
Dingwall resident Joe Darby lobbied several years ago to have double white no-overtaking lines painted along the centre of the bridge carriageway.
He said: “The lines of sight along the curve are too poor for safe overtaking, yet this is a frequent occurrence.
“I have nothing but sympathy for the people injured in this collision and I hope they recover soon. This accident just vindicates my point. That bridge is intrinsically dangerous.”
Police closed the A9 for three hours as fire and ambulance crews worked at the scene on Sunday.
A fire service spokeswoman said both Mrs Hughes and her grandson were out of the Audi before the engine compartment was completely destroyed in the blaze.