A Bedfordshire woman who is on a year-long waiting list for hip surgery brought her case to the High Court on Wednesday for the right to be treated quickly in France.

Yvonne Watts, 72, was told by Bedford Hospital that she will have to wait more than a year even though she is in constant pain and has to use a wheelchair.

Her lawyers say a year is too long to wait and that she is entitled to go abroad for treatment.

Mrs Watts' daughter, Julie Harding, has spoken to a consultant at La Louviere hospital in Lille, France who said the operation can be carried out within two weeks.

The Bedford Primary Care Trust says one year does not count as an undue delay under Department of Health guidelines which would disqualify Mrs Watts from treatment abroad.

Mrs Harding has said she will re-mortgage her house if necessary in order to pay for private treatment for her mother, estimated at about £4,000.

The trust last year categorised Mrs Watts as a routine, rather than urgent patient.