Mike Harris of Salop Leisure, left, presents the 'good news story' champagne to Simon Jones, of Ruyton-XI-Towns

The inspirational story of a Shropshire man who defied doctors to walk again after a horrific motorbike crash has been named the county’s “good news” item of the week.

Simon Jones, from Ruyton-XI-Towns, completed a 20-mile fundraising trek along canal towpaths from Ellesmere to Llangollen, despite being told by medics he would never walk again.

Salop Leisure has joined with the Shropshire Star to launch a two-month campaign to raise the profile of the county’s many feelgood stories – and Simon’s exploits have earned him the first bottle of bubbly.

The 32-year-old collected his prize at Salop Leisure’s Shrewsbury base from director Mike Harris, who said: “We were all impressed by the courage and bravery shown by Simon.”

Simon has made a remarkable recovery from the injuries he suffered in a crash at the Maesbury Road junction in Oswestry in 1997. He “died” five times and was in a coma for more than nine months after the crash.

Salop Leisure managing director Mark Bebb said his company wanted to help lift the credit crunch gloom by offering a bottle of bubbly for the best good news story of the week.

Each weekly winner is being chosen by Salop Leisure, in conjunction with the editorial team at the Star.

• E-mail your good news stories to newsroom@shropshire star.co.uk, or write to Newsdesk, Shropshire Star, Ketley, Telford, TF1 5HU.