A local man who survived a horror motorbike crash has thanked the community for getting behind him and raising money for a wheelchair to allow him to be as independent as possible.

Sean Doherty, a former international motocross racer, was paralysed during a race in Clackmannanshire in September, when his wheel hit a tractor rut sending him flying over the handlebars.

He has still not returned home permanently from hospital, but was able to spend Christmas with his family and friends at home near Garelochhead.

His goal is to become as independent as possible, which is now closer to reality after the community rallied to raise money for a Trackstander wheelchair, which can go on all terrains and allows users to move between seated and standing positions.

Sean picked the chair up on Christmas Eve, and is looking forward to getting home and back to his normal routine.

He said: "I don't want to be a burden on anyone.

"I want to be independent. I fully intend on going back to work."

Until his accident, Sean worked as a manager at a garage in Helensburgh.

He is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the spinal injuries unit of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.

Sean told the Advertiser: "The rehab is going well, I've got lots of new tricks to learn and I'm looking forward to get back to normality.

"Their thesis is to make you as independent as possible.

"We are going to bring the chair in and they will give me some tips with it."

He said he would still be attending motocross events, helping to coach riders, including son Jordan who still races.

The chair was custom made and shipped from America, costing more than £12,000.

Sean's partner Lou said: "The look of glee in Sean's eyes when he saw the chair was just incredible.

"He inspires me every day, his strength rubs off on Jordan and I. We operate as a unit.

"The community came together in such a short time of three weeks to raise the money, donations were coming from everywhere."

She said they had planning permission to adapt their home for Sean's needs, but work still had to be done before Sean could return home for good.

She said: "We've had great support from the building warrant and planning people. We are still in negotiation with the home improvements team.

"That is our obstacle now."

Sean would like to thank his partner Lou, son Jordan, Adolfo Arino for setting up The 22 Foundation which was the driving force for raising the money to buy the chair, colleagues, friends, family, the motocross community who have supported him, and everyone who donated to his fund.

He said: "It has really humbled me. Thank you for digging deep when it has been a dark time."

Lou added thanks to everyone who donated, the team at Argyll and Bute Council's planning and building warrant departments, and Air Sea Scotland, where Scott and his team helped clear the chair through customs and helped unpack it.