WHEN John Dutton was a child, doctors told him he would never walk again – but now he is in training for a gruelling endurance challenge.

John was born with a club foot and needed major surgery when he was a toddler, which doctors predicted could leave him needing a walking frame or his foot in plaster for the rest of his life.

But the 24-year-old has made a remarkable recovery and has now set himself the ultimate challenge by competing in the Ironman UK event in Bolton on July 17.

The race, which attracts thousands of competitors every year, comprises a 2.4 mile swim in Pennington Flash, a 112-mile bike ride, and a marathon finishing in Bolton town centre.

Mr Dutton, of Shakespeare Avenue, Radcliffe, said: "It is a big achievement for me. When I was born, my foot was turned right in like a golf club. They had to operate on it when I was very young, only about nine months old I think, and it was a major operation that could have gone another way. But my mum looked after me so well and it is down to her help that it was corrected.

"My right calf is a lot smaller than my left and I have got stitches all down my leg. I'm very lucky to be able to do what I can do. The doctors told my mum that I would be lucky to ever walk or run, but here I am now."

Mr Dutton, who works at the Total Fitness gym in Bolton, is using the event to raise money for the disability charity, Scope, and has already collected hundreds of pounds via an online donations page.

After being inspired to take on the epic event as his first ever triathlon, he has had to learn how to swim and is excited to experience the relief of crossing the finishing line.

He added: "I'm a decent runner, but I have never done a triathlon and couldn't even swim in November. I have had to do five days a week in the pool to get ready.

"I also got knocked off my bike last Sunday and have a few cuts and bruises and a swollen ankle, so it's all happening at the moment.

"I work in a gym and I saw people coming in talking about last year's Ironman and saw how they had devoted their lives to it. They would always say what a fantastic feeling it is to cross the finishing line and I wanted to experience that too.

"It is a little bit mad but you only live once."

To donate to John's fundraising campaign, visit tinyurl.com/zv22mkk