Aid worker Sally Becker has accepted compensation from a national newspaper for publishing articles which criticised her work in Albania and Kosovo.

Sally, dubbed the Angel of Mostar for her work with war victims, agreed the out-of-court settlement with Associated Newspapers Ltd following a three-year legal battle over a libel claim.

The amount of damages was not revealed but was described by her solicitor David Price as "a substantial sum".

Sally, 40, of Peacehaven, said the apology fully vindicated both herself and the people who helped with relief convoys she organised to Albania and Kosovo.

She now hopes to resume her aid work and said she would even consider travelling to Afghanistan if she felt she could be of help.

Sally said: "I believe these articles destroyed my reputation and my credibility. They are the reason why I have not being doing hardly anything for the last three years. Now there's a chance for me to begin all over again."

Between 1993 and 1998 Sally went on volunteer aid missions to war zones in the Balkans region delivering aid and medical treatment.

In August 1998 the Daily Mail published two articles headed 'She was no angel' and 'Carry on Kosovo' which concerned an aid mission to the Kosovan border the previous month.

The articles alleged Sally was being sued by six of the volunteers for having recklessly endangered their lives.

It was claimed she took the convoy on a mountain road contrary to police advice and she had failed to warn the volunteers about the risks of the mission. It was also claimed she was more concerned about self-publicity than helping injured children.

The Daily Mail accepts none of these allegations are true.

Sally said: "When I saw the two articles I was absolutely appalled. They were dreadful and total rubbish. They put down everybody who had given up their time and risked their lives. It was really soul destroying."

Sally believed her credibility was so damaged she resigned from the charity Operation Angel.

She said: "We were reliant on public donations and could no longer make appeals under the circumstances. As my credibility was so damaged I hoped the charity could continue if I resigned. Unfortunately it did not work and the operation had to close.

"It's such a shame as so many people might have been helped if this had not happened. Nothing will give back the time we have lost and the help we could have continued giving."

A statement was made at the Royal Courts of Justice in London today which refuted the claims made in the articles.

Sally, who has a two-year-old daughter Billie-Jo, said: "They knew my case was too strong for them and they didn't want the publicity of going to court. This has been hanging over me for three years and I am delighted and relieved it's over.

"The amount of money is not the point. The important thing is that the reputation of the charity has been restored.

"All those people in Sussex who helped me now know they did the right thing and they should be proud of what they did."

She hoped to be able to start up her aid work again although she was still considering which country to concentrate her efforts on.

She added: "Hopefully in Afghanistan the relief workers and the UN are covering every aspect that they can.

"If I thought I could be of help I would consider it although I do have my little girl to think of now.

"I really love being a mother and giving my time to her but because I have done it before and know I can do it, I feel I ought to do it.

"My profession is an aid worker. I want to help people and make some difference to their lives."

Since the articles were written Sally has helped set up two centres in Albania and Kosovo for women and children traumatised by war which are now being run by a children's charity.