FINLAND'S minister for foreign affairs has denied allegations that he crashed his Harley Davidson into an Oxfordshire farmer in Thailand in 2016.

Timothy John Hook, of Cote near Witney, was in Rawai in February 2016 when he was involved in the motorcycle accident that caused blood poisoning and haematomas.

He claims that Finland's former deputy Prime Minister, Timo Soini, drove the bike that ploughed into his Honda - but Mr Soini has denied any involvement.

After appearing in the Oxford Mail, the story was covered by a number of Finnish newspapers, prompting the response.

The Finnish politician, who will meet President Donald Trump in Helsinki on Monday, said he was in Washington DC, USA, on the date of the alleged crash.

But Mr Hook, who is pursuing Mr Soini for damages, told the Oxford Mail he maintains his version of events are true.

Mr Hook, during a holiday in Thailand in early 2016, left his hotel, the Serenity Resort, to buy some fruit from a stall on the evening of February 4.

As he headed back to his hotel on a small 125cc motorbike he noticed another bike on the road behind him approaching at speed.

When the other bike, a Harley Davidson, neared Mr Hook, it careered into the central reservation before cannoning off into Mr Hook’s Honda.

The farmer was flung into the air, landing on his head in the centre of the road.

He was later told that the rider who caused the crash was Mr Soini.

The 71-year-old suffered significant injuries as a result of the crash, including blood poisoning and haematoma in his skull.

He had to undergo surgery to drain the two haematomas and later had all his teeth removed due to damage and infection.

Mr Hook is seeking damages through law firm Bircham Dyson Bell for medical expenses and other costs incurred as a result of the injuries received in the crash.