A chance breakdown and an offer of a welcome beer led an island visitor to a somewhat unorthodox lap of the TT course to raise money for charity.

Graham Inchley, from Hampshire, decided to support the Joey Dunlop Foundation by pushing a wheelchair round the 37.73-mile course, which he did on Sunday.

The idea was conceived when he was riding his father’s old racing bike on a parade lap in 2016, the 50th anniversary of his father’s TT podium finish and Southern 100 win.

But the bike, a Villiers Starmaker, broke down at Braddan Bridge and the lap was never completed.

’I was next to the Joey Dunlop Foundation House and they offered me a cup of tea or a beer. Naturally I accepted the latter,’ he said.

During his unscheduled stop, Foundation members told Graham about their work and he decided to do something to help.

’I’m in the Guinness Book of Records,’ he said.

’I hold the record for pushing a wheelchair the farthest in a 24-hour period, so I thought I could raise money by pushing the chair around the TT course.’

The wheelchair pushing started some years ago when his daughter contracted ME. Using the chair to take her on trips out, he hit on the idea of completing the record, which he secured in 2014 at Thruxton race circuit, scoring just over 100 miles.

’It all went very well,’ he said after completing Sunday’s lap.

’The aim was to finish by 6pm, and we did it with 10 minutes to spare.’

Volunteer passenger Kelly Gillim, armed with a collection bucket, was a colleague of his wife, Heather.

’One motorcyclist slowed and rode along side us, then donated £20,’ he said.

’We celebrated the end with a pint and a meal in Peel,’ he said.