The 45-year-old, who suffered serious facial injuries in the accident last February, presented the 1999 Gramophone Awards - the Oscars for classical music.

The Channel 4 broadcaster hosted the star-studded event in front of an audience of 2,500 people at London's Royal Festival Hall, including Culture Secretary, Chris Smith.

Sheena's partner, BBC reporter Allan Little

Ms McDonald was in a coma for 72 hours after the accident in Islington, north London.

And she told the awards ceremony: "Can I say that I consider it a huge honour and privilege, as I did last year, to be here to share this evening, or in fact, to be here at all."

Gramophone magazine editor James Jolly, introducing Ms McDonald, remarked on her "skill, humour and sheer professionalism."

He said: "It was with a real personal sense of shock that we learned of her accident earlier this year.

'Toe in the water'

"It gives me real pleasure and pride that she has chosen to return to the awards this year as her first public appearance since her accident."

Earlier Ms McDonald said: "It is a case of putting my toe in the water, it is my first public appearance. It is a great classical music event and I am just the grouting, the stars are the musicians."

"I'm incredibly lucky," she said of her recovery. "When I was in hospital I realised I had been so fortunate."

She is now preparing to return to broadcasting on a freelance basis, although she said she will not be as busy as she was in the past.

Next month she will broadcast a programme for the BBC's World Service.

Award winners

A police officer has been charged with driving without due care and attention following the incident.

PC Glen Whitley, 27, is due to appear before Marylebone magistrates on 26 October.

The Gramophone Awards saw Dvorak's Rusalka with Renee Fleming, conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras and recorded by Decca, awarded the title of Gramophone Record of the Year.

Artist of the Year was Martha Argerich, who was also winner of the Concerto Award for Chopin Piano Concertos with the Montreal Orchestra conducted by Charles Dutiot (EMI).

The lifetime achievement award went to violinist Isaac Stern, while the recital award was won by Renee Fleming for I Want Magic.

The 20th Century Orchestral Award went to conductor Riccardo Chailly with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra for the complete works of Edgar Varese (Decca).

Other titles were picked up by;