A PARAGLIDER pilot has told for the first time how he suffered two smashed legs and a broken arm when he crashed 40 feet to the ground.

Mark Jenkinson, 40, had to be airlifted to hospital by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance with a broken tibia and fibula in both legs after his powered paraglider struck overhead cables near his home at Barton-le-Willows.

He said he had been confined to a wheelchair since the accident in August but had been unable to get a disabled parking pass - after officials lost his documents.

"I have undergone five surgical procedures to date, with many more to follow, and have titanium frames on both legs, as well as skin grafts and pins, and it will be at least 18 months before I can correctly walk again, if at all," said Mr Jenkinson, a father-of-three who works as a site manager for York building firm Sorrell.

"I have been struggling to get my wheelchair in between parked cars when visiting hospitals and physio appointments, as I've been having to park in standard bays.

"But after a recent fall from the car whilst trying to get into my chair, in which I hurt myself, I decided I would apply for a disabled parking bay badge."

He said he sent North Yorkshire County Council copies of his driving licence, household bills, a photo and a cheque for payment by recorded delivery, and the envelope arrived safely at the council offices in Northallerton.

But shorty afterwards he received a letter saying paperwork had been received but all his personal ID paperwork and the payment cheque were missing. However, he was sure he had put everything inside the envelope.

He said council staff had told him the documents must have been lost somewhere in their offices and he was concerned someone had all his personal details, including bank account details.

He also claimed an employee told him his condition was only a "temporary thing" and he wouldn't be issued with a badge anyway.

A council spokeswoman said it took a complaint that it had lost documents supporting a Blue Badge application very seriously and complaints of this nature were thoroughly investigated.

"Blue Badges are issued when applications meet the required criteria, "she said.

"In the case of time-limited disablement or limited mobility due to an accident or surgery and where it has not been established whether the condition is temporary or permanent, the application will be supported by a discharge letter from hospital.

"The Blue Badge will then be issued if the application is assessed as meeting all the relevant criteria.”