A man left in a coma after a horrific Christmas Day attack has returned home.

Chris Bowles, 45, needed emergency brain surgery and suffered permanent injuries when he was battered with a blunt object.

After nearly two months recovering at Southlands Hospital in Shoreham he is now at home and is able to walk again.

He is still undergoing physiotherapy to restore mobility to the right side of his body, which was badly affected by his injuries.

His legs have recovered enough for him to walk with the aid of a splint and a stick but he still has no movement in his right arm.

Mr Bowles was beaten about the face and head in the early evening of Christmas Day.

He was visiting friends who were encamped on wasteland next to Anston House in Preston Road, Brighton.

They claimed to be protesting about the destruction of trees by developers at the site.

He was left lying in a pool of blood after he was hit with an object which slashed his face and forced a piece of his skull into his brain.

He spent a week in a coma at Hurstwood Park Neurological Centre in Haywards Heath.

Since then he has made a slow but steady recovery.

He returned to his parents' Rottingdean home last week.

Chris said: "It is good to be home and living more of a normal life again.

"My stepson took me to a restaurant last week.

"I am able to walk and go out in my wheelchair."

His mother Jill said: "It is great to have him back.

"It is frustrating for him not being able to do everything he wants to do, but he is getting better all the time.

"The case is in the hands of the police and we hope to see the culprit brought to justice."

Detectives from Brighton arrested two men after the attack but as yet no one has been charged.

Officers are still examining forensic evidence gathered from the scene.

Anyone with information about the attack is asked to call Sussex Police on 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.