A CIRCUS worker paralysed in an accident at Silsden nearly a quarter of a century ago has spoken of how his first-ever return to the scene has helped bring some closure.

Frank Wiegers made an emotional journey from his home in the Netherlands to the Keighley Road site, where he suffered devastating injuries in 1992.

Coincidentally, there was a circus on the field when he returned.

"It was a very strange feeling and memories came flooding back but it has certainly helped me," said Mr Wiegers, 52.

"There were a lot of emotions, which I expected.

"My hope was that the visit would help bring a degree of closure and it has.

"The people at the circus there that day were extremely welcoming and I chatted with them about what had happened all those years ago.

"I went into the tent and although it's a different circus from the one I worked with, stood at the spot where the accident had happened."

The dad-of-two, who had served with circuses worldwide, was working as part of the crew with Chipperfields when the accident occurred.

While the Big Top was being dismantled, a section of tent weighing about three tonnes rolled off a trailer and pinned him to the ground.

The incident left him paraplegic from the waist down.

After five months in Pinderfields Hospital at Wakefield, he returned to the Netherlands where he spent more time rehabilitating in Amsterdam.

He subsequently trained as a technical drawer, a career he enjoyed for 17 years.

Mr Wiegers hasn't worked since 2013, but he pursues several sports and is a member of the Dutch paralympic archery team.

During his return trip, he also paid an emotional visit to Pinderfields.

"Although my old ward isn't there any more, some of the nurses from that time are still there and it was good to see them again," he said.

"There were some things in life that didn't have a right place in my mind and coming back to where it all happened was important to me.

"Being in a wheelchair costs energy and brings a lot of pain to my body.

"At Pinderfields they stressed the importance of sport and how it helps the disabled.

"They were a massive help to me in getting my life back on track.

"I started out in the gym, did some swimming and five years ago took up archery."