Former Oxford Cheetahs speedway ace Simon Wigg is fighting back after an operation for a second brain tumour.

The five-times world longtrack champion is currently recovering at his Milton Keynes home after his emigration to Brisbane in January was cut short.

Wigg was told by Australian doctors that the tumour he had removed in May last year had re-grown, but at first they thought it would be three years before another operation was necessary.

His wife Charlie had left for England to complete the sale of their house, and as a surprise, Wigg followed her in February and the pair spent a weekend in Paris for Charlie's birthday.

However, on the following Monday, he started to have headaches and was not able to walk or talk properly.

A scan revealed the tumour was back and he was taken to Cromwell Hospital in London where a growth the size of a tennis ball was removed by surgeons. He remained in hospital for 18 days, but in the last four days he has begun to speak again. He underwent ten days of chemotherapy and will have two further courses, the next in three weeks after which another scan will be taken.

His wife Charlie said: "He's doing really well. His speech is still very slow and while his long term memory is good, his short term memory is not so good."

The 39-year-old Wigg's illness put an end to a glorious 20-year speedway and grasstrack career. He is a former double British speedway champion, world No 2, six-times grasstrack champion and was a regular with England. With Cheetahs, he played a major role in their domination of the sport in the 1980s.