A STUDENT who was badly injured when he fell under a float during a Rag Day parade is to sue the police who saved his life.

Matthew Halstead, from Nelson, broke his leg and pelvis when he fell under the wheels of the 18-tonne articulated lorry carrying the float in the procession in Cheltenham, where he was studying at university, in March 1999.

Police officers and on-lookers lifted the weight of the truck off the 23-year-old until the fire and ambulance service arrived.

But now Matthew, a former student at Walton High School, in Nelson, and Nelson and Colne College, is taking Gloucestershire Constabulary to court for allegedly causing his injuries by negligence.

The case is due to be heard at Bristol High Court on Monday, February 23, although he has dropped a similar damages claim against the University of Gloucester.

At the time of the accident, which left him in a critical condition in intensive care at Cheltenham General Hospital for several days, Matthew was a first year student at the college.

He was among 1,000 students involved in the rag procession through the streets of Cheltenham on a Saturday morning.

Eight lorries carrying floats were also in the procession and Matthew fell under the lead vehicle.

He spent nine weeks in hospital as a result of his injuries and at the time said the incident had been "very traumatic."

His parents Kathleen and David, formerly of Barkerhouse Road, Nelson, and now of St Anne's Street, were on holiday in Spain when it happened and flew back as soon as they were told.

At the time of going to press neither Matthew, nor his parents, were available to comment on the legal action.