Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond was laughing and smiling as he took a trip in the Yorkshire Air Ambulance helicopter for the second time in as many weeks.

The 36-year-old TV star was discharged from Leeds General Infirmary yesterday, and transferred to a hospital closer to his home near Cheltenham in Gloucestershire.

Stuart Ross, Mr Hammond's consultant neurosurgeon, predicted he could be "back to his old self" within six months.

The air ambulance airlifted a smiling Mr Hammond, known affectionately as Hamster by his Top Gear co-presenter Jeremy Clarkson, to Leeds Bradford Airport, where he boarded a waiting plane.

Martin Eede, Yorkshire Air Ambulance chief executive, said: "The crew were doing a routine training flight to Leeds General Infirmary and it coincided with a need for him to be taken to Leeds Bradford Airport.

"We were asked to transfer him there to a waiting plane, which has moved him closer to his home."

Mr Eede added: "We are pleased it has gone full circle. We were involved in airlifting him to the hospital and we are pleased that he appears to be making such good progress and we were able to help out once again."

The presenter arrived at the Bupa hospital in Clifton, Bristol, shortly before 1pm yesterday.

He managed to give staff waiting for him in reception a cheeky wave as he was taken inside.

Speaking after the airlift, Mr Ross said he was "very optimistic" that Mr Hammond would make a full recovery.

He said: "There comes a period now which is unfortunately slow and is difficult to get through.

"He has to rest and allow his brain to recover and that takes time. I'm sure that once that period is over he will be back to his old self."

Asked when that might be, Mr Ross said: "In about six months' time." He added Mr Hammond was "indebted" to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Mr Ross also said he was a "great fan" of Top Gear and expected to see Mr Hammond back working on the programme.

Police and Health and Safety Executive investigations are continuing to establish exactly what went wrong in last Wednesday's 300mph crash at Elvington Airfield, near York.

The incident happened during filming for Top Gear.

Mr Hammond's wife, Mindy, appealed for the public to make donations to the air ambulance instead of sending flowers.

Motoring enthusiasts from the internet forum pistonheads.com set up a webpage at www.justgiving.com/phrichardhammond to do just that.

The site has already raised more than £150,000 - and the total is continuing to rise.