A mum whose son suffered devestating brain injuries is using her experience to offer a lifeline to other families.

Anne Wake is one of five women behind a new support group and website, launched this week, for those with loved ones who have undergone similar injuries.

She said: "When you find yourself in this sort of situation, there's nothing that prepares you for it. You feel very lost, and quite frightened."

Mrs Wake's 24-year-old son Pete, a former Wimbledon schoolboy, has needed constant care since suffering a brain injury in 2007.

The New Malden resident met the other four founders of the Brain Injury Group (BIG) at the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disabilty in Putney, where they all had relatives undergoing treatment for brain injuries. Mrs Wake said: "We felt very strongly that we would like to help others."

The group offers information about treatments, therapies and care - as well as emotional support. Mrs Wake said only someone with first hand experience could fully understand the challenge faced by families supporting brain-injured relatives.

Her son, a student at Kings College School from 2000 to 2005, was found unconscious in the street while a final-year student at Durham University.

The former rower spent two weeks in intensive care and has needed constant care and medical support ever since.

In a statement on the BIG website, his family said: "Peter will not lack love and support in his fight to improve his quality of life and we shall leave no stone unturned in that fight. There is nothing we can do which can ever repay him for the joy he has brought us."

For more information visit braininjurygroup.org.uk.