IT was a landmark birthday his family never expected him to see.

Eight years ago Wayne Howard's life hung in the balance after he was critically injured in a serious motorbike accident and his family was told to expect the worst.

The father-of-three, who used to be a Manx GP racer and a martial arts enthusiast, suffered severe brain damage and lost his right leg.

But Wayne, from Millbrook in Southampton, proved doctors wrong. He survived against the odds - and has now celebrated his 40th birthday in style.

More than 80 of Wayne's family and friends dressed up as film stars, celebrities and historical figures for a fancy dress party to mark the occasion.

Wayne himself turned into Robin Hood for the night, and his partner Tracy Goodwin was Maid Marian.

Tracy said: "We really wanted to celebrate Wayne's 40th, as well as celebrating how well he has done since 2000 when he had the accident.

"He has come such as long way since we were told there was little hope for his future. We wanted to celebrate and tell everyone Wayne is still here and he's reached 40."

Big-hearted Daily Echo readers rallied around to support Wayne and his family following his accident, which at times left him unable to recognise his own sons Jayd, 16, Jordan, 14, and ten-year-old Connor.

Madcap fundraising stunts took place across the region and readers raised £25,000 to enable Wayne to travel to Germany for pioneering treatment.

He attended a top brain injury clinic and received intensive physiotherapy and occupational therapy to help boost his movement and speech.

"Wayne received lasting benefits from attending the clinic," said Tracy.

"He got stronger and progressed in leaps and bounds."

Tracy and Wayne's mother, Isobel, set up the Wayne Howard Trust to raise money for other victims of brain injury.

The charity runs a shop in Shirley, Southampton, and its ultimate aim is to raise enough money to build a multi-million- pound clinic, similar to the German clinic Wayne visited, in the south.

■ Contact the Wayne Howard Trust on 023 8087 1696.