An eleven-year-old girl from Sunbury who received horrific burns as a nine-month-old baby while on holiday in Malta has finally received the first installment of her settlement following a battle against the tour operator.

Sara Fayed suffered horrific injuries when boiling water spilled over her upper body due to the faulty layout of her apartment while on a First Choice Holidays and Flights Limited holiday.

She has now received £30,000 from the tour operator.

Sara was in Qawra, Malta, with her parents when the accident occurred. Her mother was making a cup of tea when Sara grabbed the electrical flex attached to the kettle, pulling it off the work surface, spilling boiling water over herself.

The layout of the apartment meant that the electrical sockets in the kitchen were located close to floor level where the sockets could be reached by children.

It was ruled that the layout would not have been permitted in the UK due to safety regulations.

Tour operator First Choice Holidays and Flights Limited denied liability, and the matter eventually proceeded to trial in the summer of 2005.

Halfway through the trial First Choice admitted liability for the accident on the basis that they would accept 90 per cent responsibility for the injuries caused.

An interim payment of £30,000 has now been paid to Sara, partly to fund the plastic surgery that she will require. Further payments will be made when the nature of the injuries are fully assessed over the next couple of years as Sara grows up.

Sara's mother, Jacqueline, said: "It was a horrendous incident which still haunts me, and has left Sara with permanent injuries. She spent considerable time in hospital both in Malta and in the UK having to undergo painful skin graft operations and then had to wear pressure clothing for almost three years. Even now she suffers with ongoing scarring and she will require additional surgery as she grows up.

"The main aim now is for Sara to have the treatment she requires and I am grateful that our solicitors have been able to obtain the funds so this treatment takes place."

Philip Banks, solicitor from the international travel litigation team at Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, which specialises in cases involving people who have suffered illness or accidents abroad, said: "The layout of the apartment where Sara was staying was clearly dangerous and this was an accident waiting to happen.

"First Choice have fought this claim every step of the way and made no offer to settle the case before trial. First Choice even attempted to blame the accident on Sara's parents "First Choice were ordered to pay £20,000 towards the cost of Sara's care in addition to the £30,000 which has been paid to Sara as a further interim payment."