A motorcyclist has launched a potentially massive High Court damages claim over devastating injuries he received in an accident with a Land Rover driven by a Highways England employee.

Hoo resident Paul Rose, 44, is seeking compensation for life-changing injuries which have left him permanently in a wheelchair and paralysed from the chest down.

If a judge rules that the driver was to blame, Mr Rose could receive millions of pounds which would go towards adapting his home to meet his increasing needs.

The dad’s life was ripped apart after the collision as he was riding his Suzuki just minutes away from his workplace in Thurrock, Essex, where he was about to start a night shift.

The fuel terminal operator was overtaking a line of slow moving traffic on the A1090 when the Discovery vehicle came from an access road, colliding with him in February 2015.

Mr Rose suffered spinal injuries, needed surgery to insert metalwork and was in hospital for six months.

He now has no voluntary movement in his chest, abdomen or legs, struggles to breathe, but can move his arms.

He also suffered internal injuries and multiple rib fractures and medics say he is in danger of developing a cyst on his spine.

He said: “I knew it was serious straight away because I could not feel anything. It has wrecked my life.

"I used to spend quality time with my son, but now I don’t see as much of him as I would like.”

His 16-year-old son, Lewis, lives with his mother in Chatham.

His disability has also put a strain on his partner, Helen, who he says plays a “big part” in supporting him.

He also had to sell his former home because it was unsuitable for wheelchair access.

“I knew it was serious straight away because I could not feel anything. It has wrecked my life..." - Paul Rose

He is only able to do a couple of short shifts a week at the terminal where he had worked for nine years and is concerned he will lose that if he cannot do more.

Mr Rose, who was previously fit and active, said: “This is not to improve my quality of life. It is out of necessity. I’m not sick, I’m not going to get any better. If I don’t get the money I need, I don’t know what I’ll do. It’s very frustrating.”

In a writ published at the High Court it said that despite his injuries, Mr Rose has worked hard to maintain his independence and went back to work part time in February last year.

Mr Rose is accusing Highways England of negligence, saying its driver drove from a minor road across a major road when it was unsafe, at excessive speed and into collision with his machine.