WHEN many people his age are thinking of easing into their comfortable slippers, pensioner Wes Clayton is donning his cycling shoes.

The 66-year-old former joiner, from Houghton-le-Spring, has the kind of record at big events that Daley Thompson would be proud of - but he's done it all despite having a liver transplant.

Since the operation at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital seven years ago, the father of two grown-up daughters has won a gold medal at every Transplant Games - apart from one.

But, as Wes explains, he did have a good excuse. "Last year it was my daughter's wedding so I weighed it up against the Transplant Games and she just shaded it.

"I compete in the Super Vets' category - over 55s - at the 10km race. I've won it every year I've entered but I'm slowing down a bit now. That could just be old age."

Wes had to undergo a liver transplant after an operation to remove a kidney in 1980 led to complications.

The blood used for the transfusion was contaminated, and this in turn contaminated the liver, so 13 years after his initial operation he had a second one - this time a life-saving transplant.