Wayne Just before the bike run

A MOTORBIKE crash victim who suffered horrendous injuries has got back on a motorbike for the first time since his accident.

Father-of-three Wayne Howard from Southampton rode in a motorbike sidecar from Southampton and District Motorcycle Club in Eastleigh to Beaulieu's Motorcycle World.

It was a big day for Wayne, 37, and his family, who have been helping him through years of physiotherapy and treatment since he lost a leg and suffered brain injuries after his crash in August of 2000.

Wayne's mother Isobel, 60, said he enjoyed the ride as he sat in the sidecar with eldest son Jayd in a motorbike convoy all the way to Beaulieu.

She said: "It was quite a big thing for him to do but he seemed to enjoy it. The weather was very hot and by the time we got to Beaulieu we got him out and back into his wheelchair to cool off a bit. He had a lovely time looking round at all the motorbike stalls where there were Harley-Davidsons and classic motorbikes on display."

She added: "Wayne is making good progress. He broke his leg a while back but is out of plaster now so he is getting on with his fitness and toning up again. He and his family are doing very well."

Wayne had been a fit, motorbike enthusiast who enjoyed martial arts before his terrible crash.

Since the accident his family including partner Tracy Goodwin, 38, of Porlock Road, Millbrook, have set up the Wayne Howard Trust and shop to help other brain damaged patients.

The shop opened in Church Street, Shirley last year to raise cash for the trust and help brain injury victims reach their full potential.

Volunteers are still needed to make the shop work at the best level possible.

Isobel said: "The shop is still going but we are desperate for more volunteers to help us out.

"We want to be able to help people in a similar situation as Wayne to have a good quality of life."