A paramedic paralysed in a road accident and told she would never walk again will prove medics wrong later this year when she embarks on a sponsored challenge.

Georgie Hurst, 33, suffered horrific injuries when the car she was in crashed on a road near Keighley seven years ago.

Despite her massive long-term injuries she has now pledged to walk around Yeadon Tarn in September to raise funds as a thank you to staff at the intensive care unit at St James's Hospital in Leeds, who battled to save her life.

The walk will literally be a huge step forward for Georgie who was confined to a wheelchair after the tragedy but has managed to build up her strength by training at a gym near her home in Eldwick.

It took firefighters an hour to cut her free from the wreckage in which she broke her neck and her leg, crushed her pelvis and suffered massive internal injuries including brain-stem damage.

Injury experts said she would never walk again but using special crutches she is determined to complete the challenge on September 11 and wants to raise as much cash as possible. Some of the cash raised will also go towards the British Heart Foundation.

"All the doctors except my neurologist at Jimmy's said I would never walk again. I wanted to prove them wrong and him right," said Georgie.

"I've already had a bit of a practice going around the Tarn. I managed it but I was absolutely worn out. I'll make sure I do it again a few times before September just to make sure I can do it."

Georgie, whose lifelong ambition had been to work as a paramedic, has had to teach herself to speak and write again and still needs the support of full-time carers to carry out day-to-day tasks.

But despite her struggles, she is still determined to help others and is looking at becoming a counsellor.

Last year Georgie's brother James and his sister-in-law Deborah Town, both from Bingley, cycled 127 miles along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal to raise £1,000 for the intensive care unit that helped Georgie survive. And her local pub The Airedale Heifer in Sandbeds is also hosting a fun day in her honour.

Landlord Tom McKenzie said: "We heard about Georgie's walk and wanted to help. She's an absolute inspiration."

Anyone who would like to support Georgie's challenge should contact Tom on (01274) 563366.