A GOLD-winning Paralympian archer has had a bow that has won him scores of medals and trophies framed as a special memento of his extraordinary career.

John Stubbs, from Woolston, has had the bow - which he calls a 'part of himself' after it travelled with him to competitions all around the world - framed after four years of sterling service.

Between 2013 and 2017, the bow fired an estimated 500,000 arrows - winning John titles including two gold medals at the 2013 World Archery Para Championships in Thailand and a silver in the mixed team compound at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio.

The 52-year-old, who was awarded an MBE for services to archery in 2006, said: "The reason that I had it framed was because it is a bow that has won me pretty much everything that you can win.

"I shoot in excess of 2,000 arrows a week, so that bow has probably shot in excess of half a million arrows.

"It's a testament to the equipment that it's lasted for as long as it has.

"A bow eventually ends up becoming a part of yourself to be honest, so I didn't want to just put it away and forget about it because of how much it has meant to me."

Wilderspool-based interior design company Jacob Furniture UK has encased John's bow in a glass frame, and it is now sitting at 'pride of place' on his bedroom wall alongside the numerous trophies it has helped him to win - which also included silver and bronze medals at the 2015 World Championships in Germany and the 2014 European Para Archery Championships in Switzerland.

Stubbs first picked up the bow and arrow in 1994, five years after his right leg was amputated following a motorbike accident.

John, who previously won a gold medal at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing and also featured at the London games in 2012, added: "Unfortunately, because it's shot so many arrows over the last few years, it was inevitable that something on the bow was going to give up eventually.

"Rather than just bin it, it was suggested to me that I should get it framed instead and Jacob's said they could frame it for me.

"To be honest, I'd just like to thank Jacob Furniture for doing what they've been able to do.

"It's now in pride of place on my bedroom wall alongside everything that it's won, with all the trophies and certificates."