Father 'grateful' as son recovers

Mr Spinelli says he is happy for every minute he spends with Lio

A five-year-old boy who suffered brain damage in a crash in which his mother died has made "unimaginable" progress, his father says.

Lio Spinelli, from Lewes, East Sussex, had a badly broken leg and was in a coma after the accident on the M2 in Kent last September.

But he has now started school and is able to live a normal life, according to his father Martin.

"I am grateful for every day with Lio," said Mr Spinelli.

His wife, Sasha Roberts, 40, died when her Nissan Micra car was in an accident involving a lorry between Sittingbourne and Faversham in Kent.

Four months later, a laptop which contained the last photos of his wife taken before she died was stolen by burglars.

"Priceless" family pictures were stored on the stolen laptop

The medical notes for Lio, who was still receiving treatment, were also on the computer.

Mr Spinnelli offered a reward and appealed for its return via BBC South East and local newspapers and recovered it after a taxi driver found it dumped in his cab.

Since then, father and son have been focusing on Lio's recovery.

"When something like this happens you gain a perspective and a clarity that I certainly didn't have before," said Mr Spinelli.

"Now I am just happy for every minute with my son and I am happy for everything he does."

A scholarship has been set up in Ms Robert's name at the University of Kent, where she worked.