A PARAPLEGIC pilot has spoken of his determination to complete a 5,000-mile solo flight to the North Pole after suffering an injury.

York Flying Club member Dave Sykes, who lost the use of his legs in a motorcycle accident in 1993, set off from Rufforth, North Yorkshire, in an adapted microlight, which allows him to attach his wheelchair to the flying machine, at the end of March.

Mr Sykes, who in 2011 became the first paraplegic to fly a microlight from England to Australia, had been repairing his wheelchair in Germany last week when he fractured his right hand.

After posting pictures of his swollen hand on Facebook, the 47-year-old, who is attempting to raise thousands of pounds for Martin House Children’s Hospice, in Wetherby, said: "I have a broken bone in my hand, it hurts a lot.

"I could swear, and I'm trying my best. I need your support, I am totally alone with no ground or air support so when I land at a different airfield they look and think 'why hasn't he got out of his aeroplane yet'. It doesn't matter how windy it is.

"Can't I just try get on with the trip please. No 'well why this'. I really will get there (I really will), and come on - let's raise money for Martin House."

His aim is to fly over Denmark and into Sweden, before heading up to the north coast of Norway and crossing the Barents sea to Svalbard, passing over water for 500 miles and coping with temperatures as low as minus 60 degrees, then crossing over the Polar icecap to a Russian ice station.

At the time of going to press, Mr Sykes was in Kellenhusen, Germany, and still intended to continue his flight.

To support him or track his flight, go to polarflight.co.uk