A Marlow pensioner who had his leg torn off when hit by a BMW whilst walking his sheepdog has launched a £200,000-plus compensation bid.

Robert Brooks, 79, of Paget Close, says in a High Court writ that he was crossing the A404 bypass in Marlow, when disaster struck.

He was with his pet in January 2014 when he suffered "catastrophic personal injuries" after being hit by the luxury car.

According to the writ, the car hit his right leg, severing it above the knee, and Mr Brooks is now suing the driver in a claim his lawyers say is "worth over £200,000."

Colin Mendoza, for Mr Brooks, says in the writ that the pensioner "sustained a traumatic amputation of his right leg above the knee" as he tried to cross the road.

Mr Brooks usually crossed the road through an underpass as he exercised his dog, but was unable to on the evening the accident occurred because the tunnel was “blocked by a fallen tree and was out of use."

However, the barrister claims he was using a designated crossing to get across the A-road when the car hit him.

Mr Brooks, who was 76 at the time, has a false leg but still has to rely on a wheelchair to get about sometimes, the writ states.

He will need a new home without stairs because of his missing limb, says Mr Mendoza in the document.

"He was very fit prior to the accident and enjoyed walking his dog some three times a day.

"He is now markedly compromised in relation to all walking and other fitness and sporting activities," the writ adds.

The driver's defence was not available from the court and the contents of the writ have yet to be tested in evidence before a judge.