A childminder involved in a horrific car crash which killed the six-year-old girl in her care has admitted careless driving.

Grace Orssten died on July 26 when the vehicle driven by 21-year-old Bulgarian au pair Svetoslava Dechkova, careered into oncoming traffic on a notoriously dangerous stretch of road between Maresfield and Piltdown.

The Renault Clio mounted the verge of the A272 and hit both a van and a tree before coming to a rest.

Grace, of Warrenwood, North Chailey, was in a child seat in the vehicle. She was immediately airlifted to hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

The child minder, who Grace's parent Julie and Kristian Orssten described as 'a good employee', survived despite sustaining serious injuries.

Prosecutor Mark Kateley told Lewes Magistrates' Court that Dechkova was driving on the A272 towards Maresfield at around 9am on July 26.

Mr Kateley said: "Dechkova lost control of the vehicle as she negotiated a sweeping right hand bend on a decline.

"Initially the car veered to the near side bank, slightly off the road, but as a result of a correcting manoeuvre she lost control.

"She went across the road and clipped a Ford Transit van extensively damaging the Clio.

"The Clio then effectively ploughed off the road into a tree."

Dechkova remembered part of the car being on the verge and then remembered trying to get the car back onto the road.

Grace's parents issued a statement saying Dechkova had been sent on a driving improvement course in February 2006.

In court the childminder, who holds a Bulgarian driving licence, admitted driving without due care and attention.

Tim Baldwin, defending, said: "This is a very tragic event for all concerned and she is devastated.

"This is a notorious area for accidents. There are lots of reports of accidents and deaths on this road."

Grace's death was the second fatality on the 60mph road between Maresfield and Piltdown in seven months.

Mr Baldwin said: "There is no evidence of excessive speed or reckless driving.

"She clipped the verge and went across a line of traffic with dreadful consequences."

Since the accident a garden has been created in Grace's memory at Cumnor House Preparatory School in Danehill, Haywards Heath, where she was a pupil.

So far over £30,000 has been donated to the 'Grace's Garden' charity.

Sentencing her, magistrates told Dechkova that the accident was a 'tragedy' and banned the defendant from driving for 12 months and fined her £1000.

They emphasised that the fine did not reflect the value of the loss of life which they said was 'incalculable'.