A community stalwart is fighting back after suffering severe spinal injuries. And he and his family have turned their attention to helping raise money for the charities that have helped him.

Jim Bond, 62, is well-known in Cromer as town councillor, chairman of the New Year's Day fireworks committee and head of the Cromer in Bloom group.

He suffered severe spinal injuries when he fell from a bench while clipping a hedge in May last year.

The accident happened after Mr Bond had returned from a holiday in Japan and was seeking to emulate the nation's famous sculpted hedges by creating one in the shape of a cloud at his home at The Warren.

He spent two weeks at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and six weeks in the specialist spinal unit at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield.

A fundraising quiz is being organised by Mr Bond and his family - at Cromer Community Hall this Saturday, February 16 from 7.30pm - to help raise money for the Spinal Injuries Association.

His daughter Laura, 31, is also running in this year's London Marathon which takes place on April 21, to raise money for the charity.

Mr Bond said: 'I am slowly progressing, I can walk short distances and things are coming back slowly. It is looking promising.'

The family is holding another quiz later in the year to raise money for the air ambulance which helped architect Mr Bond.

Accidents have also befallen other members of the Bond family over recent months.

Mr Bond's youngest daughter, Lucy, 29, broke her foot just before Christmas but has now fully recovered, and his son Nick, 29, broke his leg sledging in the snow, but again is on the road to recovery.

Mr Bond said he still aimed to help with the town council and would be supporting the Christmas lights and New Year's Day fireworks and Cromer in Bloom group as much as he could.

? To book a table for the quiz evening (a table for four is £10), contact Mr Bond on 01263 514515.

? Anyone wanting to sponsor Laura can do so via www.justgiving.com/Laurabond1