INJURED jockey Tim Sprake's fight back to fitness after a devastating head injury has been aided by the news his wife Debbie is expecting their third child in the New Year.

Mr Sprake, 33, received what at first was believed to be a straightforward concussion injury when his Audi car skidded on black ice at Clatford on December 13 and rolled over into a field.

He was rushed into intensive care and when he failed to regain consciousness within 24 hours doctors realised he had a worse head injury than first thought.

Mr Sprake who lives with his wife and sons Henry, four, and Joseph, two, in Forge Lane, West Overton, spent eight months in hospital, the first month in intensive care, and is still undergoing therapy. He has joined the Headway group in Swindon which helps head injury patients rebuild their lives.

Like many head injury victims,Mr Sprake has had to re-learn how to walk. He said: "The balance is all right now and I am able to ride ponies."

Mrs Sprake said every week his recovery shows more progress: "He has made really good progress so far but he still has a long way to go.

"The fact he was so young and fit has helped him. Tim has always been a very determined person and when he is all right he has a lot of spirit and will power.

"But it is too early to say whether he will be able to race again, we can only wait and hope."

Mr Sprake has been able to take some gentle rides on friends' ponies but is hoping that one day he will be able to return to his career. He was last year's champion jockey with 111 wins to his credit

The accident occurred as he drove home after popping into Marlborough to collect his morning papers.

He was found lying unconscious beside his car by Marlborough newsagent Tony Coles who was fortuitously delivering nearby and saw the Audi's headlights leave the road at Clatford Bottom.

Many of his jockey friends including Frankie Dettori, himself injured in a plane crash, have sent him their wishes for a full recovery. And the racing industry is raising funds to support the family with a jockeys' ball at Newbury racecourse on October 28 to mark the end of the season, along with a benefit race meeting at Nottingham on October 30 followed by a benefit greyhound meeting the same night in Nottingham.

Mrs Sprake has praised the help the family has received from the Injured Jockeys Fund especially from the local representative Sue Mills.