16175/2GAZETTE & HERALD: FALL victim Terry Barnes has returned home and thanked the workman who helped him after he fell from a ladder as he cleaned his windows.

The 65-year-old of King Alfred Street, Chippenham, spent a week in Bath's Royal United Hospital after smashing his hip and fracturing his shoulder and pelvis following the 15ft fall on May 6.

Mr Barnes, who had an emergency hip operation the day after the accident, returned home to his wife Janet, 65, on Saturday.

On Monday he was re-united with the three Welsh workmen all of the same family who, as the Gazette reported last week, were working nearby and had rushed to his aid after hearing him fall.

Welsh-born Mr Barnes, who works three days a week as purchasing manager at Calne-based LML Products, said: "I just wanted to say a proper thank you to each of them for what they did.

"I don't remember much of what happened, just that they were brilliant and were there straight away."

Despite his injuries the father-of-two managed to stand up and shake each of the workmen's hands on Monday.

Workman Vaughan Brewer, 41, of Avent Engineering, said: "It was nice to see Mr Barnes again and I'm glad to see him looking a bit better. It could have been a lot worse and he's a lucky fella we've told him no more window cleaning from now on."

Mr Brewer, his son Jason, 18, and nephew Sion, 28, are still working on gas pipes near the Barnes' house and have offered to help the couple with anything that needs doing around the house.

Mrs Barnes, who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, said she was delighted to have her husband back at home and was eternally grateful for all the help and support they had received.

She said: "You hear about so many bad things that go on nowadays but we've had so much help from everyone.

"All our neighbours have been wonderful and we've had lots of cards from people who had read about Terry in the paper."