A PARALYMPIC fencer has been putting students through their paces as part of a national campaign to improve fitness in schools.

Craig McCann, who competed in the 2012 London Paralympic Games, led a PE lesson at Eston Park School as part of Sky Sports Living for Sport initiative.

The 30-year-old shared his experiences with the youngsters in an attempt to use his story of triumph over adversity to motivate them to achieve the best results they can.

He signed up to join the RAF at 20 and it was when he underwent the necessary medical examination for new recruits that doctors found a brain tumour requiring emergency surgery.

Following extensive rehabilitation he decided to rekindle his sporting ambition and after attending a ‘Paralympics Potential’ session in 2010, he was spotted by the British Disabled Fencing Association as having a talent for fencing and began training straight away, putting a legal career on hold in order to train as a full-time athlete.

This decision led to him being selected to represent Great Britain at both European and World Championships within his first year as an international athlete, as well as for his first Paralympic Games just over two years after taking up the sport.