A father has spoken of how he has adjusted to his new life, 12 months after suffering severe head injuries in a workplace accident.

An oil drum exploded in Andrew Foster's face at Highway Care Ltd, in Detling Hill, where he worked as a welder and fabricator.

The 37-year-old, of New Road, Minster, was left with fractured bones in his face, a bleed on the brain and damage to both eyes. Doctors put him in an induced coma for more than a week.

Despite his injuries, the former Sheppey Rugby Club youth coach made a miraculous recovery.

He returned home to his wife Donna and children Keenan, 14, and Kirstie, seven, after three months in hospital.

Now he uses a cane as he has lost sight in his right eye and is nearly blind in the other.

There are hopes surgery might improve his vision and also his speech, which is affected by a hole in his mouth.

Mr Foster said: "It's been hard. Not just for me but the whole family. It has completely changed our lives.

"We have to rely on each other more. My wife has to do all the running round because I can't so it is a tremendous strain on her. But without each other we wouldn't have got this far.

"It is a learning game. I'm getting there. I'm still trying to do everything I used to.

He added: "I am literally sitting in the house waiting for the phone. I should have had surgery at the start of the year but it was cancelled and until then I don't know if I can go back to work.

"I can look back now and think life goes on. I am not going to curl up into a ball. You have got to carry on."

He also thanked everyone that helped with various fundraisers for the family soon after the accident.

Mrs Foster, 35, who works at Woodlands Day Nursery, Minster, said: "I am really grateful for all the support that we had at such a difficult time. The community really pulled together and helped us out."

The family are still waiting for the results of a Health and Safety Executive's investigation into the accident.