The family of a teenager who lost a leg after a trench collapsed on him hope next month will see him take his first steps since the accident.

Jed Christie, 19, had to have his leg amputated after being buried alive in the trench at Yeadon for more than 12 hours in May.

Jed, who lives in Rawdon, spent several weeks in hospital and has been confined to a wheelchair. But he has made steady progress and hopes to have an artificial limb within the next few weeks.

Mother Deborah Christie said: "He's being measured up for it at the moment and hopefully he'll be having it fitted within the next three or four weeks."

Jed's father, Lance, has paid tribute to his son's determination to walk again, saying he eventually hopes to be able to carry on with one of his hobbies - walking in the Yorkshire Dales.

lThe Health and Safety Executive launched an investigation after the accident and last month three charges were laid against Jed's father, Lance Christie, trading as Weavabel, of New Road Side, Rawdon.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.