A COURAGEOUS amputee who conquered two mountains is now preparing for a daunting marathon.

Widnes dad-of-two Paul Ellis, aged 47, who has had both his legs amputated, scaled the Yorkshire peaks of Pen-y-ghent and Whernside, using his new artificial legs.

Exhausted and in pain, he had hoped to scale the third peak, Ingleborough, but organised curtailed the climb due to bad weather.

Paul raised more than £730 for Marie Curie and is now preparing for his next challenge.

he plans to do the Lyke Wake Walk on August 17, a 42-mile trek across the Yorkshire Moors for the charity, Kids.

Paul, of Plumley Gardens, said: “For me it is going to be very hard physically and a big strain on my body.

“I think this could be my last challenge for a while as I have been referred to my orthopaedic surgeon due to ongoing issues with my back.

“Numbness weakness and pain in my stumps has been getting worst for the past five months.”

Kids is a nationial charity working with disabled children, young people and families across England.

Paul, a former painter, decorator, upholsterer and furniture maker, had both legs amputated below the knee in November, 2008, following a fall in 1992.

He was left paralysed for six months after suffering a bad fracture in his spine in the accident.

He said he could not survive without the support of his wife, Jackie, aged 45, and daughters, Rebecca, aged six, and Rosie, aged four.

Paul said: “My training at Stones Gym in Widnes is going well.

“I start the trek at about 11pm on August 17 and walk through the night and should finish about 7pm the following day.

“I want to challenge myself.”

You can sponsor Paul by visiting http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/paulellis1965