Speed record is a whizz for Billy

Mr Baxter broke the record to raise funds for St Dunstan's

A man who lost his eyesight six years ago has broken the world blind land speed record.

Billy "the Whizz" Baxter rode a motorbike down the runway at Boscombe Down airfield in Wiltshire at an average speed of 165mph.

Mr Baxter, from Ely in Cambridgshire, rode solo on an unmodified, high-performance Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R on Saturday afternoon, in aid of the St Dunstan's Blind Ambition Campaign.

The group provides rehabilitation, training and lifelong care for blind ex-Service men and women.

Mr Baxter was a Staff Sergeant in the Royal Horse Artillery for 20 years, before losing his sight while serving in Bosnia in 1997.

Shortly after he returned home, he was diagnosed with a rare eye disease and is now totally blind.

World record

To achieve the solo record attempt, two ghost riders rode alongside Mr Baxter, giving him directions through a three-way voice-activated communications system.

After the record-breaking run, Mr Baxter said: "It's brilliant it's an amazing feeling, it still hasn't sunk in yet."

He went on to praise St Dunstan's, saying: "They have injected the life back into me and my family."

His wife, Karen Baxter said: "It's brilliant, fantastic, he'll be really chuffed with himself."

Mr Baxter beat the previous world record by 24mph.