WHOEVER was in a tipper van that passed Ro Govett's car on the A28 near Ashford have now become the main suspects, detectives revealed today.

It is now thought the brick that smashed through the windscreen of the 41-year-old's Peugeot 406, hitting her in the face, came from the light-coloured flatbed van.

Officers believe this is a major break through in closing in on those responsible for hurling the brick.

Mrs Govett has been left blinded in her right eye following the incident in November and has undergone major surgery to reconstruct the right side of her face.

Det Insp Richard Leahy, leading the investigation, told the Kentish Express on Wednesday that the driver or passengers of the van could hold vital evidence about what happened.

But just days later he revealed the van and those inside are the suspects he wants to talk to. "We need to speak to the passengers or the driver of this vehicle and urge them to contact us," he said.

The tipper van was at the front of four vehicles driving towards Mrs Govett's car on the A28 in Bethersden at about 6pm on November 27.

The driver of the fourth vehicle in the line was the first to come to the aid of Mrs Govett when she lost control of her car and careered off the road in to a garden.

Anyone with information is urged to call Det Insp Leahy or Det Sgt Hayley Spedding at Ashford police station on 01233 618188.