A veteran cricket umpire who had her jaw broken when she was struck in the face by a ball says she will return to action.

Cricket-mad Mary Smith was umpiring from her position by the wickets when the batsman sent the ball back towards the bowler – and into the 74-year-old’s face.

Hitting widow Mary on the underside of her left ear, the 160g leather and cork ball smashed into her jaw at 50mph.

The blow knocked Mary to the floor.

She has been left with a broken upper jaw and severe bruising around the left side of her face. She cannot chew and is on a liquid diet.

The gran-of-eight is now waiting for the swelling to go down to see if she will need to have her jaw wired.

But retired teacher Mary, from Carlisle, is not phased by her injury and will be returning for her duties, working for the North Lancs & Cumbria Cricket League next season.

Mary, an umpire of 40 years, was officiating in the potential title decider between Cockermouth and Cleator at Cockermouth’s home ground, Sandair, on Saturday.

It was nearing the end of the game, with only eight overs to go, when Cleater professional Tharaka Waduge struck the ball hard back towards the bowler.

Mary said: “It came at me that fast that I didn’t see it coming, never mind being able to move out of the way.”

Luckily a nurse and a doctor were watching the game and came to Mary’s aid before an ambulance arrived and drove onto the ground.

She was blue-lighted to Whitehaven’s West Cumberland Hospital where an X-ray revealed her upper jaw was broken.

At the ground, a quickly arranged meeting between the two captains and the remaining umpire concluded that the game would continue.

The batsman had to be persuaded to return.

Mary said: “Yes it is sore and very tender but I also feel very lucky that it didn’t hit me square-on in the face.”

The rare female umpire – there are only 50 officiating in the UK – has only ever been hit once before, when she suffered a burst vessel when she was hit in the knee.

“It’s a sport,” she said. “and it comes with risks, but it would never put me off. I love the game.”

The mum-of-two began playing cricket when she was a schoolgirl living in the south of England, attending Woking Grammar School.

Her love of the game continued when she moved north and she trained to be an umpire 40 years ago, juggling it with motherhood and supply teaching.

She said: “There needs to be more women in cricket. there are more in the south of England as it’s played more in the Home Counties but it would be great to encourage more women into the sport.

“I joke that women are better at hitting the ball because we start by playing rounders, which is a much smaller bat.

“Umpiring is a great opportunity too, there is no reason why there shouldn’t be more women umpires. I do believe we have to work harder because you would get pulled up more, but I have had a great experience.

“If you love cricket then get into umpiring – I have the best seat in the house.”