AN angry motorcyclist who could lose his leg after it was crushed in an accident today blasted magistrates who gave the driver a £200 fine.

Paul Harrison, 35, has already undergone five operations following the crash which happened close to his home in Shadsworth Road, Blackburn, in August. He is now facing make or break surgery to see if doctors can save his leg.

Paul, who works at Callendar Aeroparts, Altham, had only travelled 20 yards on his Kawasaki 600cc motorbike when he was hit by a Peugeot 405 being driven by Dennis Harvey, 31, of Droylsden, Manchester.

The car came across the junction, hit the bike side on and threw Paul 30 feet into the air before he landed on a grass verge.

Harvey pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention when he appeared before Blackburn Magistrates on Thursday and was fined £200 with £100 costs and had his licensed endorsed with six penalty points.

Magistrates can impose a fine of up to £2,500 for the offence and disqualify drivers convicted of driving without due care and attention at their discretion.

Paul said: "That split second has changed my life into a living hell. I can't walk and face years of surgery and treatment as well as the fact I may lose my leg before I am right again. I cannot get out because I am in a wheelchair and it takes me ages to get upstairs. I may lose my job because I have been away from work so long. I wasn't bothered about him going to prison - but a bigger fine would have been nice. "People get fined £1,000 for not having a television licence."

A keen skier and mountain bike rider before the crash, Paul was taking his motorbike for its MOT when the accident happened near the junction with Fecitt Brow.

Paul added: "The next operation is crucial and the doctors have given me a 50-50 chance that they will save my leg."

Paul, who has already had a toe amputated, will undergo his operation at Salford's Hope Hospital on March 29 when doctors will fit a cage to his leg which he will have on for 18 months.

Harvey, who changed his plea from not guilty on the morning of the case, was not represented by a solicitor but told the court he had been driving for 15 years and that it was the first accident he had been involved in.

He went on: "I stopped and looked both ways but I just did not see him. I was in a hurry to make my way to work and I just did not see him."

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