A WHEELCHAIR-bound man will be going on an incredible journey across Spain to raise money for charity.

In 2000, Paul Smart suffered a fall which left him paralysed from the neck down.

In May, the 60 year-old, from Otterbourne, along with a team of friends, family and carers, will tackle a 500-mile trek along the Camino De Santiago in aid of spinal injuries charity the Southern Spinal Injuries Trust.

The Camino de Santiago is a large network of ancient pilgrim routes stretching across Europe which runs from St Jean-Pied-Du-Port in France over the Pyrenees to the tomb of St James in Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain. Paul and his team hope to complete the route in 5-6 weeks.

Paul met paralympic rugby player Aaron Phipps at the Meon Valley Marriott Hotel & Country Club in Shedfield.

Paul said: “I know this will be incredibly challenging, we will be travelling a great distance over some extremely difficult terrain, dealing with the physical hardship, the complexity of my day to day care and any medical issues that may arise. I will have a wonderful team of family and friends and carers pushing and walking with me.”