Defiant pictures of a woman widowed and seriously injured in the Westminster terror attack smiling from her hospital bed have been released.

Melissa Cochran, 46, suffered a broken leg, rib and cuts to her head when Khalid Masood mowed her down on Westminster Bridge and killed husband Kurt.

The couple were on the final day of a visit to London to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary when Masood sped into pedestrians at more than 70mph before stabbing a police officer outside parliament.

Despite the horror she's been put through and still showing the physical scars of her ordeal, Melissa posed for pictures smiling and with her family by her side, reports Mirror Online .

Melissa Cochran was injured in the attack

In one image, captioned "getting stronger every day" Melissa stands on crutches in her hospital gown.

The hospital snaps were shared on a GoFundMe page to raise money for her children and has already reached more than £56,000.

Melissa's brother Clint Payne said: "Her health is steadily improving and she has been strengthened by the presence of her family.

"She is so grateful for the outpouring of love and generosity.

"So many people have been so kind, and we are deeply touched by their goodness and generosity.

"The most difficult part of all of this is that Kurt is no longer with us, and we miss him terribly.

"He was an amazing individual who loved everyone and tried to make the world a better place."

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British-born Masood, who grew up in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, before converting to Islam in prison, drove a rented Hyundai Tucson 4X4 at more than 70mph along the bridge in a rampage which lasted just 82 seconds.

He injured more than 50 others before running into the grounds of the Houses of Parliament brandishing two knives.

American tourist Kurt Cochran, 54, and London teacher Aysha Frade, 44, died at the scene after being hit by Masood’s car.

A picture Khalid Masood, the man police say carried out the Westminster attack

Retired South London window cleaner Leslie Rhodes, 75, died in hospital the following day.

PC Keith Palmer was knifed to death as he stopped Masood storming parliament.

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