A journalist who feared he would lose his leg after a cycling accident is back in the saddle and preparing for his first competitive race.

Jon Cooper, a reporter for the Derbyshire Times in Chesterfield, suffered a broken tibula and fibula in his right leg.

He underwent two operations and had to wear an external frame for five months to pin his leg together after plummeting 18-feet into a river while out riding in September.

But he was determined to get back on his bike and next week plans to compete in the North Midlands Road Race League for the first time since his accident.

Jon, (38), told HoldtheFrontPage: "As soon as the frame came off I was back out on my bike working towards racing.

"I was determined not to let it go by, I love it.

"I was so keen that from December, even when the frame was on my leg, I adapted an exercise bike and did gentle exercise for half-an-hour a day."

But Jon said it was down to the hard work of staff at the orthopaedic clinic at Sheffield's Northern General Hospital that he was able to get back into sport.

He said: "I'm not under any illusions - I'm convinced if it hadn't been for them I'd have lost my leg.

"They do work miracles."

Jon plans to rejoin his team, the Norton Wheelers, for the second race of the season at Laughton, near Worksop, next Thursday evening.

He will be one of around 80 competitors who will tackle a 30-mile course.

Jon said: "I won my first race last year and had hit some degree of form, this was going to be a special year.

"Naturally this has set me back but I'm involved and I appreciate that."