Five years after being told he would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair Paul Hudson has completed the 89-mile Forest of Dean Spring Classic cycling event.

Paul, who played rugby for Cinderford, Lydney, Ebbw Vale, Pontypool and Tredegar said the race was the hardest thing he had ever done.

The 44-year-old coach manager of Cinderford Second XV had been aiming for gold by completing the route in six hours or less.

With a final time of six hours and thirty-four minutes, he was narrowly denied silver after getting a puncture in one of his tyres.

"I was quite pleased to get to the finish and it feels like quite an achievement," said the father-of-three, who lives in Lydney.

"The competitive part of me is disappointed I didn't get the time I wanted but it wasn't bad for a first attempt.

"How many of the 800 other riders out there were told four years ago that they might never walk again?"

The Spring Classic a circular route through the Forest, which starts and finishes in Monmouth, taking in six steep hills including the gruelling climb to Symonds Yat Rock from Huntsham Bridge at around the 60th mile mark.

Completing the race was an important milestone for Paul, a former Motocross champion, who suffered a serious spinal injury while playing rugby for Bream in October, 2006.

Told he may never walk again, Paul defied doctor's expectations and regained sensation back in his limbs and was allowed home to recover instead of being sent on a six-month course of rehabilitation.

Paul had only been riding for six months before taking part in the Spring Classic.

He said: "It's been a hard battle, and it still is. Another neck injury could be the end of me but there's no point in wrapping yourself in cotton wool.

"Thankfully I've had the support of family, friends and sponsors."

Paul was sponsored for the event, and gets backing on an ongoing basis for his time trialling, by Lydney's Severn Valley Cycles.

"I have a lot of belief in Paul," said cycle shop owner Marcus Carrozzo.

"He did well and I think we'll see him compete on a national level as well as inspiring people who have had similar injuries."