A BOY who suffered a serious brain injury after being hit by a bus at he age of eight has put his life back on track.

Simon Lambert, now aged 19, of Clifton, York, was left with severe behavioural problems and learning difficulties after the accident, but following extensive rehabilitation, he is regaining his independence.

Simon’s mum, Debbie, said: “Before the accident Simon was very laid back and easygoing, but the effects of his brain injury caused him to become more aggressive towards the rest of the family.

“When he first started his outbreaks I didn’t know how to handle him.

“He also used to threaten people and from time to time would break objects around the home in anger, and although he remained well behaved at school he left without getting any GCSEs.”

Debbie said Simon would smash up his bedroom, but then wouldn’t realise that he had done it himself.

In February 2000, Simon ran into the path of a bus in Water Lane, Clifton.

He was chasing a tennis ball that had rolled into the road when he was walking home with his brother, Steven, from Kingsway Junior School.

The eight-year-old was rushed to hospital with a fractured skull and had an emergency operation to remove a blood clot from his brain.

Simon has since had access to a dedicated carer and support worker and now, 11 years after the accident, he is attending a Skills For Living course at York College, which is teaching him basic skills.

He has joined a local snooker club and does voluntary work over the summer holidays.

The family received a six-figure pay-out after 11 years from the bus firm’s insurance company, which has paid for Simon’s rehabilitation and care package, after instructing Irwin Mitchell Solicitors.

Debbie said Simon can now be left on his own and can do things for himself.