Simon Richardson talks of his hopes to cycle again in 2015

Paralympian Simon Richardson says he's hit a further setback in his attempt to return to cycling.

The Beijing gold-medallist had been training for a charity ride from Paris to Swansea this summer, but problems with his spine have left him in urgent need of an operation.

Watch the report from Mike Griffiths below:

Simon had hoped to go for a further gold at London 2012, but suffered life-threatening injuries when hit by a drunk driver in 2011.

Simon says he hopes to have the operation done privately because it could be performed earlier in the year, giving him enough time to recuperate and then train for the Paris-Swansea cycling event.

Simon Richardson in the BT Paralympic World Cup before his accident Credit: Joe Giddens/EMPICS Sport

The operation is not without its risks, but Simon says if successful it would give him a better quality of life.