A motorcyclist who suffered terrible head injuries after he collided with a plough attached to the back of a tractor has won a substantial compensation payout.

Anthony Royle was overtaking a line of stationary traffic on the A54 outside a farm in Winsford when disaster struck on 20 September 2012.

The 48-year-old was struck on the head by a ploughshare protruding from the rear of a tractor which was turning left, London’s High Court heard today.

Mr Royle suffered devastating head injuries in the collision, which have left him unable to manage his own affairs and needing a lifetime of care and support.

He sued GA and S Broster and Son, the farm business which owned the tractor, claiming massive damages.

On Thursday Mr Justice Jay approved a confidential settlement of Mr Royle’s damages claim.

No financial details were released by the court or by Mr Royle’s barrister, Stephen Killalea QC.

However, cases in which care for life is required usually result in very substantial payouts.

The court heard that Mr Royle and his pillion passenger were both instantly knocked unconscious by the impact with the plough.

However, the motorbike they were riding “bizarrely” continued onward for another 150 metres before keeling over onto the grass verge.

The tractor was being driven by a 17-year-old who had gained his licence a year previously, said Mr Killalea.

The barrister said the plough attachment on the tractor had protruded across the white line as the tractor turned left.

The motorbike was going at about 60mph and Mr Royle didn’t spot the danger in time.

The impact with the “dangerous solid metal plough” left Mr Royle with significant lifelong disabilities.

Mr Killalea told the judge that a decision had been made to compromise the claim for less than its full potential value.

Defence lawyers had questioned why Mr Royle did not “give the tractor a wide berth” instead of passing close to it when overtaking.

The barrister added: “Mr Royle will require care and support for the rest of his life, but he is somebody who wants to be independent.”

Mr Justice Jay approved the settlement, saying: “This is a reasonably good settlement for Mr Royle, bearing in mind all the factors.

“You could have done better, but you could have done worse. This settlement is one which I am prepared to approve.”

Mr Royle was not in court today and his family and lawyers declined to comment afterwards.

When contacted by The Chronicle, GA and S Broster and Son also declined to comment.