Lucy Shuker and Phil Eaglesham on the medal hunt at the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro 2016

A Taunton man invalided out of the Royal Marines with a debilitating condition picked up in Afghanistan is competing in the shooting.

Phil Eaglesham is representing Ireland in the men's R4 prone qualifier on Saturday, September 10, and hopes to be in the final the next day.

He is also taking part in the men's R5 prone qualifier on Tuesday, September 13, with the final scheduled for later the same day.

Phil has been supported by Help for Heroes since he contracted the airborne bacteria Q Fever while on tour with the Royal Marines.

He said: “There is no real prognosis apart from deterioration, so we don’t know where the future lies, but sport has really given me an outlook on to doing something positive.

"As my illness deteriorates, sport gets better and gives us something positive to work on.”

Phil, who has suffered psychological problems with his illness as he is unable to play with his children, said sport has helped him feel "normal again" as it has given him the opportunity to compete.

Lucy Shuker, of Ash Priors, made history at the Paralympics in London 2012 after winning Great Britain's first ever women's wheelchair tennis medal.

Lucy, who also competed in Beijing 2008, has her sights set on gold in Rio.

She started playing wheelchair tennis in 2002 following a motorbike crash that left her paralysed from the chest down.

She was the first Brit to contest wheelchair tennis events at all four Grand Slams and her other achievements include winning the Vitalise Women of Achievement Award in 2011, British Tennis Disability Player of the Year 2012 and the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Player Choice Awards in 2007 voted for by players on the world wheelchair tennis tour.

People in the Taunton area are hoping Phil and Lucy bring back medals to add to the gold won by former King's College student and GB hockey goalkeeper Maddie Hinch and bronze awarded to Ed Ling, of Wellington.