THE brother of a bus driver left fighting for his life after an accident in Chippen-ham said his family are hoping to have him home for Christmas.

Nigel Allen, 49, was left with a broken collarbone, broken ribs, a collapsed lung and a broken neck following the accident on the A4 between Chippen-ham and Bath on November 13.

He was driving a 17 seater Fosseway Coaches bus, which was carrying 11 passengers, including five children aged between 18 months and four years.

His bus skidded and crashed in to a field as a location known as Chequers Hill, smashing in to a tree.

It is believed an object, which was hanging from a flatbed transit truck driven by Swindon man, 36 year-old Tim Gough, struck the minibus.

Yesterday, Don Trinby, 47, Mr Allen's brother, said he spent two days in a coma and is still critical.

But his family are hoping he could be home for Christmas.

PC Chris Barham, of Chippenham police, has appealed for witnesses to the accident, which is under investi-gation.

Witnesses could call Chippenham police on (01249) 654455.