A Swindon man is hoping to get his name in the Guinness Book of Records in a gruelling 24-hour ordeal.

Mike Land is going to attempt to pull a van the greatest distance in a day, with a practice attempt on Thursday, May 9.

It is the latest attempt by Mike to defy doctors who said he would never walk again after his bungee rope snapped and he fell 160 feet from a crane.

He said: “I'm really excited. I can't wait to do it. It's been so long. It feels like it's been forever. 

Swindon Advertiser: The Fiat Doblo weight 1.5 tonnes

“And it's going to be bigger than all of the challenges I've done to date.”

Mike was told he was very lucky to survive the snapping of his bungee rope, fracturing his pelvis in the incident.

He has not let the doctor’s warnings of hip problems hold him back and has since completed around 40 half-marathons.

His latest venture will see him try to tug a 1.5-tonne Fiat Doblo more than the current 32.1-mile record.

Swindon Advertiser: Mike Land with the Air Ambulance

He said: “I didn't appreciate how much planning goes into these attempts. I have huge respect for anybody doing any world record attempts because it isn't as easy as I thought.

“Once it's going, it's not too bad. It's about keeping the rope taut. If you jerk it, it will constantly fight against it. 

“If you can lean into it and keep going, you're fine.”

Mike will be attached to the van by a harness and Guinness Book of Records (GBR) has said he can only take two minute’s rest for every hour of pulling.

He will have a support team to feed him and to press the van’s brake to stop it rolling onto him in case he falls.

Swindon Advertiser: Mike Land

He has had lots of support with the effort, from health and safety checks to a porta-loo company providing facilities for the day.

The pull also requires a very flat area to prevent the van from rolling, which has been provided in Western-super-Mare for the record attempt.

Mike is raising money for Wiltshire Air Ambulance and hopes to raise £12,000 - the amount it costs every day to run the service.

The date for the official record has yet to be set, but Mike is staging a practice pull on May 9, at Cotswold Airport, near Cirencester.

He is inviting sponsors and the public to come and cheer him on and even have a go themselves.

To sponsor Mike visit https://www.givengain.com/ap/mike-land-raising-funds-for-wiltshire-air-ambulance