Actor Jason Priestley has regained feeling in his feet and is making good progress, following spine surgery last weekend after a speedway racing crash on Sunday.

Doctors at the Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, said on Thursday that the actor should be able to get up and sit in a chair within 24 hours.

Priestley, 32, is still considered to be in a serious but stable condition after six hours of surgery on his back and feet.

But hospital spokesman Jon Mills said doctors were optimistic about the former Beverly Hills 90210 star's prognosis.

Priestley was rushed to hospital

"He has mobility and feeling now in all of his extremities, which is a great sign," Mr Mills said.

Mr Mills added that Priestley's lengthy rehabilitation treatment could start as early as next week

The actor is a member of the Kelley Racing team and was practising for the final of the Indy Racing Infiniti Pro Series at Kentucky Speedway when he crashed.

Brace

He was taken to the University of Kentucky Hospital but was later airlifted to the Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

The Indianapolis facility is known for having treated several other Indy Racing League drivers.

In addition to fractures in his ninth thoracic vertebra and in both feet, Priestley suffered a contusion around his left eye.

Priestley rose to fame in Beverly Hills 90210

He also has lacerations on the bridge of his nose, left cheek and neck.

The orthopaedic surgeon who operated on the actor, Dr Kevin Scheid, said: "The bone repair in both feet went as well as could be expected.

"I don't foresee a need for any additional reconstructive surgery on the feet."

Priestley was fitted with a back brace on Monday to determine the stability of the fracture in his ninth thoracic vertebra.

Tests showed no immediate signs of paralysis or permanent neurological damage.

TV star

Following the surgery, Priestley's racing team manager said the star was determined to get back behind the wheel.

Witnesses to the crash said Priestley appeared to have driven through some "oil-dry" - an absorbent material that was spread on part of the track 10 minutes earlier to soak up an oil leak from another car.

Drivers had been warned not to go through it.

Priestley became a worldwide star as Brandon Walsh in US teen drama series Beverly Hills 90210 between 1990 and 1998.

He also starred in a critically acclaimed production of the hit Broadway play Side Man on London's West End stage.

His film credits include Love and Death on Long Island, Tombstone and Eye of the Beholder.