"This morning he was moved out of intensive care onto a high dependency unit, " said a spokesman at Leeds General Infirmary. No further details about the presenter's condition were being released at the request of Hammond's family.

The 36-year-old presenter of Top Gear was badly injured on Wednesday when he crashed a jet-powered dragster as he accelerated towards 300mph. He suffered what his doctors have called a significant brain injury as a result of the accident at an RAF airfield near York. Although doctors remain concerned about his condition they have said they are "reasonably optimistic he will make a good recovery".

The accident is being jointly investigated by police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

A HSE spokesman said its officers were focusing on the events that led up to the incident . . . the planning, the risk assessment undertaken and whether Hammond received any special training. "We will look at the film footage, but at the moment we are concentrating on what activity took place prior to the accident, " he said.