Former footballer Clarke Carlisle improving after lorry crash

Former Premier League footballer Clarke Carlisle, who was seriously injured in a collision with a lorry, is awake in hospital.

His wife, Gemma Carlisle, thanked supporters on Twitter and confirmed that he is awake.

The 35-year-old former Professional Footballers' Association chairman was seriously injured following the collision on the A64, near York, on December 22 and remains in a Leeds hospital.

North Yorkshire Police launched an investigation into the circumstances of the incident and appealed for witnesses.

The Metropolitan Police later confirmed that Carlisle was charged with failing to provide a sample on December 20 - days before his serious injuries - and is due to appear in court later this month.

Former Leeds United and York City defender Clarke Carlisle is in a "stable and relatively comfortable" condition, but faces a "long road to full recovery", his family have said.

The 35-year-old was seriously injured in a collision with a lorry on December 22.

The incident happened on the A64, near York, and Carlisle is recovering in hospital in Leeds.

A statement from his family, released by the Professional Footballers' Association, of which Carlisle is a former chairman, said:

It emerged earlier this week that Carlisle was facing court action over an alleged drink driving offence after being charged just days before suffering his injury.

He was charged with failing to provide a sample on December 20 and is scheduled to appear in court on January 20.

The family of former Leeds United and York City defender Clarke Carlisle has revealed he is now in a stable condition in hospital but faces "a long road to a full recovery." The ex-chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association suffered serious injuries when, as a pedestrian, he was involved in a collision with a lorry on the A64 near York on December 22.

It later emerged that just days before the crash he had been charged with a drink driving offence by the Metropolitan Police.

Tonight his family issued a statement through the PFA:

The former footballer Clarke Carlisle is seriously ill in hospital in Leeds tonight after being injured in a collision with a lorry in North Yorkshire.

A charity he works with says he's suffered head and knee injuries - his wife has described his condition as very poorly but stable - and she says she's been overwhelmed with messages of support, as Jon Hill reports.

The charity for which Clarke Carlisle is a trustee has said he has head and knee injuries.

The Kaleidoscope Plus Group says it has contacted his family, and that he has head injuries and a knee injury.

Footballers who know Clarke Carlisle as a colleague and former chair of their players' association have tweeted their shock at the news of his involvement in a collision with a lorry.

Clark Carlisle's wife has said his recovery is the "best Christmas gift" she could hope for:

Clarke Carlisle's wife, Gemma, has tweeted her thanks to those who have sent her messages of support after her former York City footballer husband was hit by a lorry.