THE BBC has issued a new statement on Freddie Flintoff's return to Top Gear following his horror accident.

Filming on the long-running motoring programme was halted after the crash last December.

The accident happened at a test track at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey.

Flintoff and a crew member were badly injured as the Morgan Super 3 - which has a top speed of 130mph - flipped.

The Ashes hero, 45, suffered serious facial injuries and broken ribs.

Following an investigation, the BBC apologised to him and said the present series of Top Gear would not continue.

But one of the top TV execs at the Beeb has spoken about Freddie's future on Top Gear.

Chief content officer Charlotte Moore said: "My priority at the moment is supporting Freddie through his recovery so I think it would be really inappropriate for us to resume filming now.

"I think when we get to the point where he feels ready ... and we'll get to thinking about getting him back."

She added the organisation has to be "really human about this" and "do the right thing".

"When someone's in recovery, I don't think we would push that ... I think that would be really inappropriate, I wouldn't be happy," she said while speaking at the Broadcasting Press Guild (BPG) event.

Immediately after the accident Freddie was given medical attention at the test track before being transferred to hospital for further treatment.

The Sun previously revealed that the vehicle he was driving was not fitted with air bags.

The former England cricketeer, who has suspended all work as he recovers, was driving an open-topped three-wheel classic-look sports car.

In 2018, he was announced as the new host of Top Gear alongside Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris.

The trio were popular with many viewers of the show, which had been presented by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May - its most successful line-up - for well over a decade.