Teenager Mark Evans, who broke his neck in a fall from a fairground ride, was due to have an operation on his injuries today.

The 18-year-old's mum Lesley is with him at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, after the accident at Thame Fair on Thursday.

His dad, M40 traffic policeman Gareth, said: "The long-term prognosis is good. He has movement in arms and legs and we're very hopeful that everything will go well.

"We're all desperately worried but we're very hopeful the doctors at the John Radcliffe Hospital will be able to make him well again."

Speaking from the family home in Willow Road, Thame, Gareth added: "Mark was at the fairground with friends, just like scores of Thame youngsters. We do not know any details of what happened just before he fell. We just know the fairground ride lurched and Mark was thrown backwards out of the chair and on to concrete.

"Mark has not been able to say much but we'll piece it all together later. The important thing is that he is alive and the future looks brighter. "He is likely to be off work about three months."

Mark's mum Lesley, a demonstration car deliverer working in High Wycombe, was with Mark at the hospital.

The couple have three sons - Mark the eldest, Matthew and Tom.

The 18-year-old former pupil at Lord Williams's School, Thame, is now a landscape gardener and was enjoying an evening at the fair after Thame Show on Thursday.

The fall from the Shockwave ride outside the Town Hall in Thame led to an immediate investigation by the Health and Safety Executive.

Lesley urged youngsters to keep off the ride but it was open again on Friday and Saturday.

People running the ride have been advised by the Showmen's Guild not to say anything to reporters because of the investigation.

No-one running the ride would comment on the accident occurred or anything about the behaviour of people on it before the fall.

The ride is not a high speed affair and safety harnesses did not have to be worn.

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