Lord Ivar Mountbatten and former Olympic swimmer and world champion Mark Foster have launched a fundraising drive to help people who have become tetraplegics as a result of sporting accidents.

The Transforming Lives campaign will be managed by Regain, the charity for sports tetraplegics, which is chaired by Lord Mountbatten.

“Regain is the only UK charity dedicated solely to improving the independence of those who have become tetraplegic after sporting accidents," Lord Mountbatten said.

"Over 30 years, we have helped some 3,500 sporting tetraplegics to regain their independence, and the Transforming Lives campaign will allow our support to reach even more people in need.

"We are aiming to raise one million pounds, through Transforming Lives."

Tetraplegia is paralysis causing partial or total loss of use of all four limbs and torso. In the UK, between 800 and 1,200 people are paralysed each year, with around half of these becoming tetraplegics.

Many of the injuries occur through everyday pursuits such as social and leisure activities.