A WOMAN desperately seeking the reinstatement of legal aid to fight against a drug she took during pregnancy was given an early Christmas present when her battle for support was given an extension.

Stanmore mother-of-four Karen Buck has been fighting for compensation from the makers of Epilim for more than seven years, believing that taking the epilepsy medication during pregnancy left her 12-year-old daughter severely disabled.

But just weeks before her, and 600 other claimants, case was set to start at the High Court their much needed legal aid was withdrawn.

Ms Buck, of Sandymount Avenue, with the support of Harrow East MP Bob Blackman, has since been fighting to get the cash reinstated and was given a deadline of December 20 to force the issue.

However, pressure from the 39-year-old and her fellow complainants has led to the deadline being pushed back until January 28th.

She said it was an important early Christmas gift that will give her some additional time to continue her fight.

She added: “My daughter has a non existent life expectancy so I can't afford to hang around in this battle.

“Every time she gets ill I have to face the fear that she could die at any time.

“I will keep pushing hard to get this case noticed and get the decision overturned, so the extension is really important.

“Having said that, if the decision doesn't go our way by then I will continue to fight this until everyone knows the dangers of taking the drug.”

Her 12-year-old daughter Bridget Coyle, was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, or water on the brain, and other disabilities which played a part in the Legal Services Commission ploughing millions of pounds in to the case.

The next instalment of £750,000 was withdrawn however after claims there was a 50 per cent chance of success.

Last month the Observer revealed how Ms Buck had taken her fight to 10 Downing Street and she added she is still hopeful Prime Minister David Cameron will lend his support.