Blind pilot in speed record bid

Miles Hilton-Barber has been blind for 25 years

A blind pilot is to attempt a new world air speed record in Gloucestershire.

Miles Hilton-Barber, of Duffield in Derbyshire, is aiming to fly a Hawker Hunter jet over Kemble at 600 miles an hour later.

He will be accompanied by a sighted Red Arrows co-pilot and will be raising money to help treat children born with cataracts.

The 58-year-old adventurer already holds a record for flying a microlight from London to Sydney.

His other accomplishments include a 150-mile trek across the Sahara in the Marathon des Sables and climbing to 17,500 feet in the Himalayas.

Mr Hilton-Barber, who has been blind for more than 25 years, uses his experiences to inspire others as a corporate motivational speaker.