A teenager who survived a crash that killed four of his friends has told his father from his hospital bed that he wants to return home.

Matthew Simpson, of Montgomery Road, Caversfield, Bicester, is still in a critical condition in Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital.

The 17-year-old was the sole survivor of the crash near the Oxfordshire border on the A422 near Westbury, in Buckinghamshire.

He was one of five young men travelling in a Ford Fiesta, which crashed into a tree. He suffered broken bones and internal injuries and has undergone a number of operations.

His father Mark told the Oxford Mail: "He has told me he wants to come home more than once. He is not well enough to have a really good conversation with yet. He's progressing very slowly, which does not come without setbacks for such a dramatic accident.

"He's not out of the woods yet and is still in intensive care.

"It has been a very upsetting and emotional time for all of us, but the main thing is Matthew is alive and still fighting."

The father of the former Buckingham School pupil has been at his son's bedside ever since the crash.

Mr Simpson, of Bicester firm M&S Electrical, said: "The better he gets, the more tired he gets. He's not up to many visitors as he has to get his rest. He's very fragile.

"I'm very proud and pleased with him and want to thank everyone for their support. Matthew has a long way to go."

The rugby fly-half, a member of Bicester Rugby Club, has a 19-year-old sister Hayley and step-siblings Luke, 14, Lauren, 13, and Max, 10, who attend Bicester Community College.

His mother, Jane Meakin, lives in Buckinghamshire.

Eighteen-year-olds James Bowyer, of Marsh Gibbon, near Bicester; Lee Grimshaw, of Brackley, Northamptonshire; Edward Manders-Naden, of Calvert Green, Buckinghamshire; and Kirk Nokes, of Buckingham, were all killed in the crash on Sunday, June 1.