A firefighter who plunged off Shoreham flyover while dealing with an emergency must wait to see if she will receive compensation.

Sarah Cotton, 35, from Worthing, fell 40ft and was forced to quit her job because of the injuries she suffered in December 1997.

She is claiming compensation from her former employers, West Sussex County Council, the National Blood Service, whose lorry crashed, and the Department of the Environment, which is responsible for the road.

After a five-day hearing at Brighton County Court, Recorder Charles Macdonald reserved his judgement. The decision will be announced at a later date.

During the hearing, the court heard how Miss Cotton was helping the passenger of the lorry, who was trapped.

She climbed over the roadside barrier to get to the other side of the vehicle. She believed there was road over the barrier, between the slip road and the flyover. In the dark, she was unaware there was a 40ft drop.

She suffered severe back, leg and pelvis injuries and left the fire service in May 1999.

During the hearing she was accused of being reckless.

She said senior fire officers should have erected extra lighting at the scene.

The Department of the Environment said the road was safe and complied with required standards.