Readers have thanked a man who raised thousands for Great North Air Ambulance.

Will Clark, from Grasmere, has been a keen supporter of the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) since a serious cycling incident in July 2012.

His family has raised thousands of pounds for the emergency team since.

Lori Robinson said: “Amazing amount of money, well done.”

Lynne Axford said: “Well done. They saved my husband's life after a heart attack.”

Nigel Bailey said: “Incredible. Well Done!”

Rachel Tyson said: “Amazing Will."

Recalling what happened, Will said: “Tragically during a charity triathlon a stick got caught in the wheel of my bike sending me over the handlebars leading to me breaking the right side of my neck with permanent damage at the C4 vertebrae. This led to me being paralysed from the shoulders down.

“Being young and fit I hadn't given GNAAS much thought prior to this accident. The good thing is other people's support meant that they were there when I needed them.”

Will was flown to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle for surgery before being transferred to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough where he spent five months before finally being discharged.