SEVEN months ago Petty Officer Stephen 'Elkie' Brookes was about to be promoted and had performed as part of an elite field gun crew.

But a motorbike accident in October last year changed everything.

The father-of-two was knocked off his bike as he was coming home from work in Poole, Dorset, crushing part of his spine and leaving him disabled.

Now a group of his friends and colleagues at the naval training base HMS Collingwood in Fareham are preparing to take part in a nine-day marathon bike ride to raise money for the charity that has helped him out.

The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) has provided PO Brookes with a £10,000 electric wheelchair to aid him in his recovery.

Warrant Officer Bob Fuller, Chief Petty Officer Richard 'Pincher' Martin, Leading Seaman Richard 'Ronnie' O'Sullivan and Simon Aldridge are planning to undertake a 600-mile ride to Old Trafford and back. They aim to return in time for the Field Gun Festival at HMS Collingwood's open day on June 6.

LS O'Sullivan said: 'He was a really, really active person, so much so that if he didn't go training, he would get a bit grumpy.

'He's still got that twinkle in his eye though – when I last went to see him, the moment he saw me he tried to run me down with his wheelchair.'

PO Brookes is currently at the spinal injuries unit in Salisbury undergoing a rigorous rehabilitation programme in his fight to become as independent as possible.

CPO Martin added: 'He had just been selected for promotion when the accident happened – the world was his oyster.

'Lesser people would just give up if something like this happened to them, but you know Elkie is going to fight this all the way.

'He's got some movement back in his arms, but it's going to be a long struggle.'

The cycle team hopes to raise £3,000 from their efforts.

And they are also looking for local businesses to donate prizes for a raffle to be held at the open day.

Eventually PO Brookes hopes to move in to a specially adapted home in Titchfield with his wife Nicky and their two children.

LS O'Sullivan added: 'He said he made his life down here and he wants to stay around here.'