ACCIDENT survivor Mark Teggert has paid a big "thank-you" to the ambulance services which helped to save his life.

The father-of-two is recovering from injuries suffered when he was thrown from his motorcycle while travelling to work in February.

The 32-year-old record store assistant manager was flung into the path of a lorry on the opposite carriageway of the B1280 road, between Wingate, east Durham, and Sheraton, near Hartlepool.

Air and road ambulances were alerted. Mr Teggert suffered five fractures in his leg, a shattered arm, a burst spleen and numerous other injuries.

He needed 20 pints of blood over the following days and spent five days unconscious at the University Hospital of Hartlepool.

Mr Teggert has subsequently spent time in Middlesbrough General Hospital and the University Hospital of North Durham, undergoing plastic surgery and orthopaedic rehabilitation.

He was only allowed home to Bearpark, near Durham, after three-and-a-half months in hospital and although he is now wheelchair-bound, he hopes to be walking again within a year.

Friends among the congregation at All Saints' Church, in Newton Hall, Durham, dedicated a long-distance cycle ride last month to those who helped Mr Teggert.

He was to have taken part in the 157-mile ride from Hull ferry terminal to Durham, which was completed in his absence by Steve Mordue, Robin Murdie, Tony Murray, Alan Cross, John Fairbairn, Mike Heaps, Peter Britton and Roger Reeve.

The £710 sponsorship raised has now been handed to the Great North Air Ambulance charity, which requires £1.5m to keep its two ambulance helicopters flying for a year.

Mr Teggert said: "We're so grateful to everyone."

He will thank everyone personally at the church, in Carr House Drive, on September 27, at 7.30pm.