RICHARD HAMMOND IMPROVING
 Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond is improving but
remains seriously ill in hospital after he crashed a jet-powered car
during filming for the BBC show.
The 36-year-old was thought to be driving at about 300mph on an airfield near York when he crashed on Wednesday.
The Health and Safety Executive and the BBC will investigate the incident.
The corporation, whose conduct is likely to be closely
scrutinised, said in a statement: "We are looking into all the factors
of this accident."
The statement continued: "It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage until we know the full situation."
He was initially reported to have suffered serious head
injuries and was taken to the neurological unit of Leeds General
Infirmary by helicopter.
The hospital confirmed that his wife was at his bedside
and, at the request of his family, no further information would be
released.
Hammond was attempting to break the British land speed record - currently 300.3mph - in a Vampire dragster.
His co-presenters on the BBC Two programme, Jeremy
Clarkson and James May, were also understood to be visiting their
colleague at the hospital.
Top Gear has courted controversy in the past over apparently glamorising fast driving.
In 1999 a group of MPs criticised the series for being "obsessed with acceleration and speed".
Last year, lobby group Transport 2000 called for the
show to be taken off the air accusing it of "glamorising speed and
failing to make the connection with danger on the roads".
At the time, Hammond defended the programme, saying:
"Top Gear is an entertaining show, for people that are interested in
cars, that is driven by people who have been motoring journalists for
many, many years."
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