A former fell runner paralysed in a cycling accident has been given a life-changing Christmas gift thanks to a campaign by his local weekly paper.

The Westmorland Gazette launched its Wheels for Will campaign at the start of November, reaching its £25,000 target in just seven weeks.

The money will be used to buy a specialist all-terrain quad for 27-year-old Will Clark, who was left paralysed after he was thrown from his bike during a charity cycle ride, allowing him to continue to explore the Lakeland fells.

Gazette content editor Andrew Thomas said donations to buy the cart had ranged from £5 to £1,000 – with the bulk of the cash coming from one man, ex-Cumbria trading standards officer Steve Hague.

Steve Hague, who donated £12,500 to a campaign by the Westmorland Gazette to buy an all-terrain quad for paralysed man Will Clark

Said Andrew: “The response to Wheels for Will – especially Mr Hague’s remarkble donation – has been truly phenomenal. I would like to thank him and all the other readers who gave so generously.”

The WoodStar all-terrain cart can be operated by head movements. It will be custom made for Will by Hull-based Cyclone Technologies to suit his size and level of disability.

Donor Mr Hague, who staged a remarkable fight back from suffering severe injuries in a motorbike accident 16 years ago, said he was inspired to help Will after reading the Gazette stories about his plight.

“I wanted to help Will to get back out into the fresh air up on the fells,” he said.

“After my own accident, I know what it’s like to be unable to move and be told what you can’t do. I want to help Will to do what I did – discover what you can do in times of adversity.”

The Gazette has now turned its support to an appeal by the Will Clark Fund, which aims to raise £200,000 to help Will continue living in the community where he grew up.