He has fought cancer, muscle-eating bacteria, diabetes, pneumonia and a stroke – but John Shaw is proudest of raising a staggering £20,000 in just seven months for forces charity Help for Heroes.

The 59-year-old grandfather from Cheddar has two son-in-laws in the Armed Forces and understands the "anxiety" his daughters feel when their husbands are away on operations.

So back in February he converted a bicycle into an eccentric "Troop Carrier" and began pedalling his way to his fundraising target.

He did not expect to raise the £20,000 target until next June, but his campaign gathered momentum, with people across the country responding to his can-do spirit.

He has driven to villages across the county to deliver Help for Heroes collection boxes and taken the Troop Carrier wherever he can to publicise his campaign.

"I've travelled about 1,800 miles on a bike along canals across the country, from Bristol to London to Liverpool, and Oxford and I've used the Troop Carrier to catch attention and encourage donations," he said.

"I've got a £1 drawer which I call a Grandfathers Drawer going on as well.

"I have four grandchildren. Their fathers are soldiers and it says that on the drawer and asks people to 'support our heroes whoever they are and wherever they serve'. That has worked brilliantly because clubs and groups all over the place are involved.

"People think it's the end when they get the diagnosis I had but I hope I am showing that it isn't. I will go on collecting as long as the boys are in Afghanistan."