Gloucestershire Paralympian, Mel Nicholls, has set off from Lands End this morning, in an attempt to break the world record for getting from Lands End to John O'Groats by hand cycle.

The current female record stands at 11 days and the male record stands at 10 days. Mel has set herself the challenge of completing the epic journey in just nine days.

The total journey is 874 miles, and Mel intends to complete 100 miles, and up to 2500 metres of climbing, a day.

Mel will also be helping with vital research on her journey.

She said: "Throughout this challenge I will also be measuring air quality and pollution levels along the route supported by air quality monitoring specialists, as well as taking part in daily sports science testing in conjunction with Hartpury University, providing research into endurance and disability, in particular neurological and stroke, to benefit education and wider research applications."

Mel decided to leave the GB cycling team last year, but her love of sport and adventure are as strong as ever.

"My passion for adventure and my love of sport has always been closely linked. Following some corrective heart surgery that had put a pause on my racing, and my decision to leave the GB cycling team to put these things right, this project, built over the last year will bring my experience and mindset of performance sport, into the world of adventure and ultra-cycling, studying and learning from the best to begin my next chapter."

Mel will be raising money for two charities which have supported her and many other sportspeople and adventurers with disabilities - Arctic One and Adaptive Grand Slam Foundation.

Follow Mel's journey here  

Photo credits: Mel Nicholls/ Instagram/ Twitter