AN Ipswich man has been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving after a crash which left the headmistress of one of Ipswich's top schools in hospital on the last day of term, it emerged today.

AN Ipswich man has been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving after a crash which left the headmistress of one of Ipswich's top schools in hospital on the last day of term, it emerged today.

The 22-year-old man has been bailed to return to Ipswich police station in January while Elaine Purves, headteacher at the independent Ipswich High School in Woolverstone, remained in a comfortable condition in Ipswich Hospital yesterday.

Ms Purves, who has a young family, was involved in the crash near the prestigious school for girls at about 8am on Friday.

Jo Mackenzie, deputy headteacher at the school, said: “I visited Elaine in hospital this morning (Sunday) and (she) is progressing well.

“She was eager to know how the last day of term had gone and was sorry to have missed the end of term pantomime.

“Elaine is looking forward to spending her first Christmas in Ipswich at home with her family and would like to thank the team at Ipswich Hospital for caring for her so well and the many well wishers for their kind words, cards and flowers.”

The accident happened on the B1080 at Holbrook and involved two cars; a blue Ford and a blue Mazda.

One of the people involved had to be cut from their car by firefighters and two people were then taken to Ipswich Hospital by ambulance.

Ms Purves had only settled in Suffolk this summer after moving from Bath where she was deputy headteacher at the Royal High School, a sister school to Ipswich High School.

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www.suffolk.police.uk