A TEENAGER who suffered serious head injuries and has been in hospital since he was knocked off his bike by a car in Salisbury a year ago is showing signs of improvement.

Joe Landon, 18, was cycling from the service road that leads to the back of Waitrose into Ashley Road when he was hit by a car travelling in the direction of Devizes Road.

He was taken to Southampton General Hospital initially and has been in hospital since the crash in August last year.

He was left unable to move or talk and has also suffered setbacks in his recovery due to several infections.

Joe, who was at Bishop Wordsworth’s School and then Wellbeck College, is now at a specialist neurological unit at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol.

He has recently started to smile again, having stopped following a seizure he had in March.

His mother, Sue Landon said: “He is moving a lot more but is still unable to sit up unaided – he is able to hold his head up for up to about ten minutes at a time. He is very determined and tries so hard.”

Joe was a keen rugby, squash and badminton player before the accident and Salisbury Rugby Club has raised thousands of pounds for the Joseph Landon Foundation, which was set up to help fund his ongoing care needs.

Mrs Landon said: “The rugby club have been amazing and raised a huge amount of money towards Joe’s foundation. It has been great and very heartening. People have been so kind and generous, and friends have been incredible.”

Mr Landon can only stay at the unit at Frenchay Hospital with funding from the NHS for three months so his family are currently looking at options for where he will go next for treatment.

To follow Joe’s progress, visit www.facebook.com/josephlandonfoundation.