Isle of Man TT racer Maria Costello has provided an update following her serious crash at this year's meeting.

The Northampton racer was left paralysed after she and her passenger Shaun Parker were injured when their LCR Honda sidecar outfit crashed during qualifying after striking a hare near Brandish Corner.

Both Costello and Parker were initially treated at Noble’s Hospital before being airlifted to specialist hospitals in Merseyside for further care.

There, it was confirmed she had suffered a broken back which left her paralysed from the T5/T6 vertebrae down.

Other injuries included a broken arm, multiple broken ribs, a large laceration to her liver, plus a broken nose and eye socket, lacerations between her eyes and a broken sternum.

Now, the 53-year-old has taken to social media to post her first video update since the accident, saying: 'Today, 18 weeks ago, my life changed. In a devastating crash in practice for the Sidecar TT races on the Isle of Man, I suffered a life-changing spinal cord injury at level T5/T6.

'This had been the hardest thing I’ve ever faced and I haven’t been in a place where I where I’ve been able to talk to you.

'That is until now. And over the coming weeks, I’m going to show you what’s been happening since the start, including my rehabilitation here at the Stoke Mandeville spinal unit.

'I really hope that you will stay with me as I try and piece together my new life because your support has been incredible - I can’t thank you enough and I really think it’s made the difference with getting me to where I am now.

'What will my future look like? What will my new life look like? A lot of it is very unknown.

'Will I ride a bike again? Will I finish that TT lap? I don’t know.

'But what I do know is that I’m not stopping here and I’m going to fight to get to what I love.

I also look forward to thanking all the people who have made the hardest journey I’ve ever faced, that bit easier.

‘It was an accident both Shaun and I know we were lucky to survive. Your support and donations have been unbelievable and we are eternally grateful. Shaun is now at home where he continues to recover and heal.

'Once again I want to thank everyone for their love, donations, support and comments and I really do look forward to taking you all on this new journey with me.'

A GoFundMe fundraising page was set up in the aftermath of the crash and, to date, it has raised more than £300,000 which will be used towards specialist help, physio care and possible future surgeries, as well as an adapted bed, shower, kitchen and stairlift at her home, plus a specialist vehicle for transport.

To donate, head to https://gofund.me/fd4446147

- Costello and Parker’s crash was one of several incidents that led to the Sidecar races being scrapped at this year’s Isle of Man TT which resulted in a sustainability review of the three-wheel class.

The future of sidecar racing at the TT was determined recently - found out more here.