Amputee targets coast-to-coast bus pass challenge

Barry Mackleston volunteered at his local rugby club after losing his leg

An amputee is planning what he hopes will be a world record journey from John O'Groats to Land's End using just his wheelchair and bus pass - and up to 90 separate journeys.

Barry Mackleston, who lost his leg in an accident, is hoping to save his local rugby club in Wythenshawe, Manchester, by raising money to replace its dilapidated clubhouse.

The 71-year-old has already raised £2,100 by travelling from Wythenshawe to Twickenham in London by bus, but now wants to increase the club's war-chest with a more audacious challenge.

"As far as I'm concerned this is quite mind blowing," Mr Mackleston told BBC Radio Manchester.

"I mean 900 miles effectively over five days and in a wheelchair - it's quite a little challenge, a little bit of work to do."

The former transport worker came up with the idea after the club's facilities became so run down they were no longer fit for use.

The clubhouse is owned by Manchester City Council, and Mr Mackleston said the plan is to ask for a community asset transfer so the club can renovate, which will cost thousands.

The rugby club's facilities are in a state of disrepair

He has set himself the challenge of completing the journey, from mainland Britain's northern tip in Caithness, Scotland, to its most southern point in Cornwall, England, within five days.

"If I can crack the challenge in the five days we think that will go in the Guinness World Records," he said.

Mr Mackleston said he began volunteering at the club four years ago after his accident, later becoming club secretary, and said the positive impact on his mental health was "beyond words".

"This is all building to a crescendo of getting together the best club facility in this area bar none," he said.

'Horrendous pain'

"We're the only one rugby club in Wythenshawe and so we need to make this the best there is."

Mr Mackleston said his physiotherapist will travel with him after the Twickenham challenge caused him "horrendous" pain, and said he intends to stop at rugby clubs on the long route to recuperate.

He said so far the planned route includes more than 90 buses, although he hopes to whittle it down to about 50.

Speaking about the logistics of the challenge, he said: "It's pretty horrendous because it changes continuously, bus timetables change by the minute.

"We've got an issue around Truro how we get past and onwards, but we'll get past that."

He added: "We've got to prepare ourselves and get everything ready and tip-top well in advance and so that's why we started now, the challenge is actually started now."