After spinal problems robbed him of his ability to walk, a Stoneleigh man has taken the trip of his dreams thanks to a revolutionary scooter he came across in a local shop.

Alan Gibbons, 67, and wife Sheila, 65, have always enjoyed travelling and outdoors activities, and had looked forward to using their retirement to visit the five US states they had yet to go to.

But he was struck with spinal foramina - narrowing of the spinal column - which has led to numerous operations and extensive rehab.

While at one point he struggled to walk to the end of his driveway, he happened across the special TGA Minimo scooter - which folds away for easy travelling - and was able to make the trip to Mississippi this summer, where the couple took in the iconic Mississippi river by steamboat.

Mr Gibbons said: "I thought my physical problems would stop me from doing this. I love the States and we wanted to make this trip so badly.

"It would have been so difficult with a wheelchair - you can’t have a conversation with someone who’s behind pushing you - or a normal scooter which you have to spend ages taking apart.

"But when we came across this TGA model in a local store it changed everything. Being given back my independence like this is amazing."

Having been laid up in hospital so long, and having to sit out of many of the activities he enjoys so much, it would be understandable if Mr Gibbons had allowed himself a moment of pity.

But he told the Epsom Guardian that even in the hardest times, he never allowed the thought that he wouldn’t make this trip enter his mind.

He said: "I didn’t necessarily know how we were going to do it, but it honestly never crossed my mind.

"I’m quite a determined person sometimes and I just said to myself ‘Sod it, I’m going!’ Since he still has a few more states to tick off his list, Mr Gibbons said he’s ‘incredibly grateful’ he’s been given the chance to travel again, which amounts to a new lease on life.