Two men disabled in accidents are setting off on a 3,000-mile charity trip around the coast of Britain to urge more people to give blood.

Nigel Rogoff, 43, will paddle a Kayak canoe around the seas while David Abrutat, 28, rides a handcycle on coastal roads.

The journey will be done over 12 stages starting and finishing in London and is expected to take 130 days to complete.

The two former RAF servicemen want to raise awareness of the National Blood Service and collect �100,000 for the Royal British Legion.

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Mr Rogoff, from Hereford, had a leg amputated after plunging into the roof of Aston Villa's football ground in December 1998 after parachuting in a display for fans.

Mr Abrutat, from Scarborough, was paralysed in a car crash two years ago.

'Vital lifeline'

Mr Rogoff needed 177 pints of blood in a series of operations after his accident.

He said: "Hopefully people will see two guys who have survived major trauma who want to get on with their lives and want to promote the National Blood Service in a very proactive way."

Mike Fogden, chairman of the National Blood Service, said it was a "fantastic" way to get more people to give blood.

A spokesman for the Royal British Legion said: "There are so many younger veterans like David and Nigel who have been affected by their time in service, and the Legion is a vital lifeline to them and their families."

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