HE'S HOME. After two months of state-of-the-art treatment paid for by Daily Echo readers, Wayne Howard is back with his family in time for Christmas.

He was welcomed back to the family's home by sons Jayde, 10, Jordan, 8, and Connor, 4, as well as mum Isobel and partner Tracy Goodwin.

Tracy said: "It's so good to have him back. It's not been the same without him."

Big-hearted readers raised £25,000 so Wayne, from Porlock Road, Millbrook, Southampton, could get vital therapy for severe injuries he suffered in a road accident.

Life-loving Wayne was the victim of a motorcycle crash that cost him his right leg and left him in a wheelchair. He also suffered brain damage in the crash, which means he sometimes can't recognise his own children.

When readers heard of his plight through our pages they organised scores of madcap events across the city to raise cash to get him the treatment he needed.

The money paid for Wayne to attend a top brain injury clinic in Germany where doctors used the latest techniques to help restore some of his quality of life.

Wayne had extensive physiotherapy, speech therapy, hydrotherapy and occupational therapy as well as a battery of test to find out just how damaged his body is.

Tracy said he had found the range of intensive treatments gruelling but was inspired to keep on going by a wall full of clippings from the Daily Echo.

"They lifted his spirits and encouraged him to go for it," she said. "They helped him remember all the things that people did for him so he could be there."

German doctors helped fit Wayne with a prosthetic leg and spent weeks gradually rebuilding his muscles in the hope that one day he may be able to stand unaided and possibly even walk with the help of crutches.

He also got some independence back after he was given an electric wheelchair and left to drive around the clinic - an experience the former Manx GP racer relished.

But it has all taken its toll.

Tracy said: "He's exhausted from the therapy because he's been working hard at it, really going for it. He's been given the chance to stand with a prosthetic leg. He found it really difficult to balance - it's all new to him and it's a lot of strain on his left leg but he did well and I know he'll get there. I don't know yet if he will be able to walk with crutches, we are just focusing on standing at the moment."

The clinic in Magdeburg, Germany, was a dream made real for the Howard family by readers and they weren't disappointed once they got there.

Tracy said: "With an ongoing routine of re-tracing his thoughts and memories the potential is very high to get more of the old Wayne back. His charming witty character still comes to the surface and we hope for more of that."