A Bradford man who feared he would never walk again after falling 50 feet from a cliff has undertaken a gruelling 150-mile cycle ride.

Andrew Forse, of Wibsey, spent the weekend cycling coast-to-coast across the North of England to raise money for Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield.

He was treated there in 1997 after suffering a punctured lung, severe back injuries, and a ruptured disc in his neck when he fell down the cliff while on a walking holiday in Whitby.

His family feared he may never walk again and said it had been a "miracle" that he survived the accident.

Mr Forse, who works for Bradford Council's highways department, turned to pedal power after doctors told him he should not play his favoured game of football again because of his injuries.

Now, five years on, he saddled up with his brother-in-law Matthew Haddock, 28, with whom he is pictured, right, to tackle one of Braitin's most gruelling cycle challenges - from Whitehaven, in Cumbria, to Sunder-land, a distance of 150 miles - in just three days.

"I started to cycle because I wasn't able to play football, and I really enjoy it now," he said. "I have done long rides before, but never on this scale. Obviously, I am much better now - I wouldn't be taking on a challenge like this if I didn't feel up to it."

Mr Forse, 42, who is married with two sons, was unable to walk for months following his release from hospital.

He admitted it has been tough getting back to fitness. "I was in hospital for six months and it was a long, slow process getting my body back into a fit state," he said.

"I still get pain sometimes, but nothing that causes me any great problem."

The pair will give the cash they raise to the unit where Mr Forse was treated.

"They were very helpful, very friendly, and they did everything they could to help me," he said. "They are a fantastic bunch of people who do a really terrific job."

Sheila Robbins, who is mother-in-law to Andrew and Matthew, said she is "extremely proud" of them both.