A FATHER vowed to be back on his feet by Christmas for his two children as he begins his recovery from horrific leg injuries.

Allan Forward is finally back at his family home in Pontywaun, three weeks after coming off his motorbike on Newport's Southern Distributor Road.

Mr Forward underwent more than 20 hours of surgery after his right leg was shattered in the accident.

His right knee was crushed, his hip broken and his leg snapped in two separate places.

The 40-year-old needed metal plates inserted in his leg and several skin grafts on his wounded calf at Morriston Hospital, Swansea.

But a defiant Mr Forward told the Argus he is determined to win his battle to walk unaided so he can enjoy Christmas with his two children, Stephen and Alex.

The motorbike enthusiast is currently confined to a wheelchair and is unable to stand or walk unaided. He said he is lucky not to have lost his leg.

"I feel a lot better now I am home. I just want to concentrate on getting better.

"It's been difficult for the kids for the last few weeks. I'm setting myself goals and I want to be fully-recovered before Christmas," he said.

Mr Forward remembers phoning his wife Vicci as he lay in agony on the roadside but he has no other recollection of the accident on his way home from work at Island Steel in Newport Docks.

Police confirmed there was no other vehicle involved.

Mrs Forward said: "The phone call just said help, I've had an accident, and that was it. I rushed into the car with the kids and retraced his route to work.

"There were ambulances there and Allan was screaming in agony. It's something I don't ever want to experience again."

Allan insists he will not let the accident beat him and vowed to buy a new motorbike when he is better.

"I'm just concentrating on getting better. But I will get back on a bike because it's one of my passions."