The family of a woman whose life was saved by Dr Margaret Davidson - the young doctor killed by dangerous driving - has paid tribute to her while branding her killer's sentence "unjust".

Jan Harvey and her father John Thomas said Dr Davidson was "the sort of doctor you always hope you will get when you go to hospital".

At Oxford Crown Court last week, Judge Julian Hall was moved to tears by the case.

He sentenced Nolan Haworth, 19, of Ribston Close, Banbury, to four years imprisonment for causing death by dangerous driving - a move which sparked anger from the Davidson family and others who knew her.

Among those was Ms Harvey, whose mother Joan was admitted to the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, in December after suffering a brain haemorrhage. Her family was warned she might only have days to live.

But they believe it was thanks to the quality of care given by Oxford University graduate Dr Davidson that she is still alive.

Ms Harvey, a 44-year-old business magazine editor, from Shipton-under-Wychwood, said: "My mother was close to death. She went into a coma. Margaret looked after her just after she came out of the coma and was so comforting.

"On one occasion my mother started shaking uncontrollably. My father didn't call for help, he called for Margaret. He was told her shift had ended and she had left for the day, but despite this, she returned to the hospital to see my mother.

"She affected our family hugely and we all - not just my mother - benefited from the care she gave. I will never forget her. But neither will I be able to forget that Judge Hall, in delivering only four years imprisonment on Nolan Haworth, has let all of us down."

Mr Thomas said: "Margaret was lovely. Nothing was too much trouble for her. She always had a smile on her face no matter how many hours she had worked. It angers me that this young man has wiped out the life of a young lady who had so much to offer, whose whole purpose in life was to save people's lives and make them better."

Ms Harvey has written to Judge Hall asking him how he can justify the sentence.

Haworth was driving without a licence, MOT or insurance in a borrowed Vauxhall Nova when he ploughed into Dr Davidson's car on the A4260 near Deddington on May 18. Dr Davidson, 26, was driving home to Kidlington after a night shift at Banbury's Horton Hospital.

Just minutes before the crash, Haworth was seen "driving like a joyrider", overtaking on blind bends without "any care for other road users".

Ms Harvey said: "Judge Hall may have cried at the hearing but the tears of her family and the wickedness of Haworth's deeds will continue for many years.

"I just do not see where the justice is. His sentence is not enough for having taken away a life, especially when driving so recklessly. The law must be changed."