An athlete whose Paralympics dream was shattered by a life-threatening tumour has got back on his bike.

David Smith, 37, has undergone three surgeries to remove growths on his spine, the latest in March.

The operation left the cyclist struggling to move the left side of his body and ended his plans to compete in Brazil.

He is now in training for the Route des Grandes Alpes, a gruelling 400-mile cycle across 17 of the highest mountains in France.

The Aviemore-born athlete recently got back on his bike for the first time since his latest surgery, calling it "great fun" even though it "didn't go to plan".

Mr Smith was temporarily paralysed from the neck down after doctors removed a tennis ball-sized lump from his spine in 2010.

He won a rowing gold medal at London 2012 after spending a month learning to walk again.

Mr Smith decided to switch to cycling to compete in Rio 2016 but in January he learned the tumour had grown back and was in danger of cutting off his ability to breathe.

The multi-sports athlete, who was born with a club foot, had a successful international karate career before switching to bobsleigh to compete in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Italy.

He also worked as an assistant coach with the British Ski Team and participated in the World Rowing Championships before winning gold at London 2012.