A HOTSHOT marksman has set his sights on the Rio Paralympics after getting a grant to buy his own kit.

Stuart Wright, who is paralysed after sustaining a spinal cord injury in a cycling accident in 2012, has bought his own rifle and shooting jacket with the money from the Southern Spinal Injuries Trust.

It will enable him to practise locally as well as competing in Disability Target Shooting events at Stoke Mandeville Sports Stadium in his quest to represent Team GB in Brazil in 2016.

Stuart, 35, a former mortgage adviser from Taunton, is tetraplegic after breaking his neck in the accident.

He has good arm function, but cannot move his fingers or legs, and uses a wheelchair.

He was talent spotted for shooting at a Paralympic Sports Fest last year, and goes to Stoke Mandeville each month for coaching and development as part of the Talent Development Programme.

He hopes he will be able to move up the rankings now he has his own rifle and jacket.

He said: “The grant from SSIT will make a huge difference to my life.

“My long-term aim is to be part of the Paralympic squad, and now, with my own equipment, I can practise more regularly and set my sights high.”

SSIT trustee Jeremy Major said: “We aim to help people with spinal cord injury to do the things that improve their quality of life and independence.

“It’s a pleasure to help Stuart improve his sport and we’ll be following his progress.”