A couple have completed a 192-mile coast-to-coast walk to raise funds for a charity that has helped them.

James Hart, of Mansfield, who fought back from a one-in-a-million disease, transverse myelitis, that left him having to learn to walk again.

Now, together with his wife, Beckie, he has walked from St Bees, Cumbria, to Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire, to help the Transverse Myelitis Societ.

James, who completed the walk over Easter, said: “It was tough but enjoyable.

“The charity does a great job helping people with the condition and it tries hard to create awareness.

“Hopefully this walk and my story will bring more awareness and help people who have a rare disease.”

His problems began when he contracted pneumonia and pluerisy, which led to transverse myelitis — an inflammation in the spinal cord that affects messages from the brain to the rest of the body — after he thought he had recovered.

Overnight that led to nerve damage and partial paralysis.

James added: “At the time I was told I had a 30% chance of walking again without walking aids or needing a wheelchair.”

He learned to walk thanks to 18 months of physio at Newark Hospital, which strengthened his muscles.