A selfless villager who has supported countless local families has finally been reunited with her husband after nine weeks in hospital.

Gerry Smith, who helps run the Liphook Clothing Bank, and her husband Maurice, were both hit by a car while walking through The Square at around 11pm on Friday, May 19. The pair were both seriously injured in the collision and taken to Southampton General Hospital.

Gerry suffered a broken nose, other facial injuries and her knee was “completely destroyed”. Maurice fractured his right shoulder, skull, nose, leg and had a severe open wound on his arm. Both had lengthy recovery periods with Maurice spending six weeks in hospital, and Gerry spending nine. The pair were only married in April, a few weeks before the incident, and both struggled on their separate wards.

“We just kept thinking about each other,” said Gerry. “One of the nurses was very kind and wheeled Maurice in to see me - it was very emotional. Then when Maurice got in a wheelchair he was determined to see me, even with both his leg and shoulder in a cast. It did crack me up.”

Maurice said: “It wasn’t the start to our marriage that we imagined. It’s nice to be together again, but really we’re still apart.” Due to Gerry’s injuries she is not able to get upstairs and sleeps in a single bed downstairs.

Gerry’s friend, Karen Bawden launched a GoFundMe fundraising webpage, when news of the crash spread and raised more than £600 in just three days.

Karen said: “Gerry volunteers and works tirelessly for our Liphook community to provide clothing and equipment for families in need and also provides an excellent way of recycling, stopping landfill bulk and enabling many, many families to cut back on buying new.”

Gerry said: “People have been absolutely marvellous and so supportive.”

She explained that what keeps both her and Maurice going is their sense of humour.

“Without it we would have both gone under by now.”