WHEN Highworth PC Martin Miles lost his leg in a motorbike accident he may have feared his life was over.

He had been riding along Tadpole Lane, Blunsdon, towards the A419, when he was involved in a collision with a 4x4 vehicle.

But 15 months on the 49-year-old father-of-two, who has been in the police force for 30 years, is getting his life back on track.

News of his accident was greeted with an outpouring of affection in Highworth and Swindon - which gave the popular bobby the strength to go on.

As Martin was off duty at the time of the crash he received little in the way of compensation.

So since then he has been helped by an appeal to fund the purchase of a mechanised prosthetic leg.

And if all goes to plan he will buy that at the end of next month.

The appeal was set up by several of Martin's friends.

To date it has raised more than £15,000 with a string of events and from generous donations.

Four main fundraising events have generated most of the cash.

A pram race, a football tournament, motorbike poker racing and a dancing in the streets event all helped bring in the cash.

Hopes are high that the latest fundraiser will swell the coffers even further.

The event will be be a midsummer's ball and is being staged at the Marriott Hotel on June 14.

The hope is that there will be 200 people there.

John Curzon, who is one of ten people on the fundraising committee, said: "It has been about giving something back to someone who has been so committed to the local community for years.

"The strength of public feeling on this was overwhelming and it has been impossible not to get involved.

"The primary objective is Martin's mobility and quality of life."

See a longer story with plenty of pictures in today's Swindon Advertiser

Tickets for the fundraising ball are £45 a person and include aperitifs, a four-course dinner, a charity auction and dancing to Locomotion. For tickets email midsummerball@hotmail.co.uk or call 01793-766825. Tables of 10 are available.