The wife of a football fan who is recovering from an horrific attack said her family had been left in limbo by health chiefs who she claimed had refused to bring forward a crucial head operation.

Jamie Turner, from Telford, is waiting for part of his skull to be replaced after it was fractured from ear to ear when he was attacked by a mob near St Mary's Stadium in South-ampton last May.

Immediately after the attack, the life-long Manchester United fan received emergency surgery at the Wessex Neurological Centre which involved doctors removing a blood clot from his brain.

Mr Turner's wife, Karen, was told after the operation that he was unlikely to survive, but the 46-year-old f ather-of-two has since regained almost full control of his limbs except for his left hand and arm.

The next step on the road to recovery should have been the replacement of part of his skull, which is currently stored in Southampton General Hospital, Mrs Turner said.

She claimed the operation should have been carried out within six months of the initial surgery. But the family have been told by Telford &Wrekin Primary Care Trust that the operation will not happen until July.

Mr Turner has to wear a protective helmet when he is carrying out everyday tasks because he could suffer a stroke or internal bleeding if the membrane protecting the side of his head is struck.

Mrs Turner said: "We just want to get on with our lives but Jamie cannot live a normal life until he has had the operation.

"He cannot do any activity where there is a risk of his head being struck. Jamie has improved in recent months so I have been able to leave him on his own."

Mrs Turner has launched an online petition to urge health chiefs to bring forward the operation.

A spokesman for Telford & Wrekin Primary Care Trust said Mr Turner's operation had been scheduled for the end of June or beginning of July.

He added: "Patients are assessed for speed of treatment based upon the clinical urgency as assessed by the treating consultant.

"Advice recently received from the neurosurgeon in Southampton indicates that the ideal time to undertake the operation is within three to six months of the original surgery but there are no clear guide-lines available.

"In the meantime he advises that the risk of Mr Turner coming to any harm while waiting for his operation is considered to be minimal."

Anyone who would like to sign the petition go to petitiononline.com/jt1505jt/petition.htm