Paralysed London Marathon runner Claire Lomas to cycle from London to Paris

Paralysed Claire Lomas, who walked the London Marathon in a bionic suit, is to cycle from London to Paris in a new challenge.

Inspirational Claire, 32, made headlines around the world when she crossed the finishing line after 16 days walking the 26 mile course wearing a robotic suit.

Now the mum-of-one is planning to cycle 280 miles (450km) on a hand-powered bike from London to Paris.

The bike works by sending electrical impulses to her muscles which work the pedals.

Just two weeks after her marathon challenge she is back training up to five hours a day in her kitchen on a electrical stimulation bike.

Claire, from Eye Kettleby, near Melton Mowbray, Leics., hopes to complete the ambitious bike ride next spring.

[Related Article: Paralysed woman completes London Marathon after 16 days]

She said: "About four days after I finished the marathon I thought I want to do something else, and cycling seemed like a good idea, I like to have a target.

"This one will take an awful lot of training in a completely different way to the marathon.

"I've probably not left enough time for it, but I'm looking forward to it.

"My priority is building up my legs, but I still want to have the option to use my arms incorporated in the design.

"It will be good to mix both up, to help me get all that way.

"I've been in touch with the biking firm, and I'm hoping they'll support me with the challenge and provide a bike.

"The bike is great because your legs are making the movements, so it is great for building up muscles and combating wastage, so your legs look the same.

"It means people can keep their legs strong and in shape for when spinal research advances."

Claire was paralysed from the chest down after she suffered a broken neck, back and ribs and a punctured lung when her horse threw her off during a horse trial in 2007.

She raised more than £86,000 for charity Spinal Research during her marathon challenge.