PARAGLIDING record breaker Peter Wright is on cloud nine after flying further than anybody else -- just two years after breaking his back in a freak accident in the air.

Peter has smashed the record for the furthest distance flown by covering 40 miles, from popular paragliding haunt Parlick in the Trough of Bowland.

The achievement is one he thought he would never fulfil after suffering multiple injuries when he smashed into Pendle Hill in the same paraglider back in December 1997.

The Preston College technician spent several weeks in hospital recovering from his injuries, including a broken back, and was off work for more than four months to recuperate.

He said: "There was a time when I thought I would never fly a glider again, which really worried me because I love it.

"But when I was told that I would recover I knew I would take to the skies again. "I suppose most people would have been put off by the accident and I know my friends and family thought I was either brave or daft to go back up again.

"I know I was lucky to survive the last accident but flying is in my blood. To get this record is fantastic. It's such a buzz."

The record Peter now holds is for the longest distance flown from Parlick Airfield, near Lancaster. He travelled 61.5 kilometres in a time of 2 hours 50 minutes, eventually landing in the Cloverdale Valley, North Yorkshire.

He even used the same paraglider involved in the accident on Pendle Hill for the flight, albeit with a few repairs!

Peter added: "I collected the paraglider when I left hospital and have rebuilt it so I could carry on flying with the Pennine Soaring Club.

"I am really pleased to have completed this flight. I have practised a lot since the accident, but this flight is the best one I have done."

Later this year he will take part in the British Paragliding Championships as well as the War of the Roses competition in Hawes.

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