A father was left with a fractured kneecap, tissue damage and a chipped tibia after being thrown 30ft when hit by a car.

Michael Philpott, 23, of Southern Way in Harlow, was was taken to hospital after his motorbike collided with a car on the Epping New Road at around 10.45am on Wednesday.

Witnesses at the scene told paramedics that the father-of-one had flown from his bike and landed around nine metres down the road into a thorn bush.

Mr Philpott said: "I opened my eyes and I saw the paramedics around me and a metal pole close to me.

"I had no operation but they were treating me as if I had shattered my pelvis, because they didn't know if I had hit the post which was about four inches away from me.

"All I wanted to do was get back home to my daughter."

Paramedics treated Mr Philpott at the scene before he was taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow for treatment on his kneecap, tibia, tendons and ligaments as well as a series of cuts and bruises on his ribs.

"My shoulders are shot and I can't hold my weight up on crutches and have next to no movement in my leg.

"The pain was unreal, it only stopped when they gave me painkillers in intensive care.

"I'm as good as I can be now."