Ex-paratrooper Colin Rees from Whitstable is back in Kent this evening after flying from Scotland by paramotor. He is due to land at the Duke of York's Royal Military School at Dover on Monday at 10am.

He had spent most of Sunday on the ground near Basildon in Essex waiting for the cooler evening air.

He took off again around 6.30pm and flew to near Faversham where he is spending the night. He is expected to take off again around 9am and fly over Canterbury and above the A2 heading for the landing site at the school.

The 48-year-old Falklands War veteran, who took off from John O’Groats on Saturday May 19, was scheduled to cover the 850 mile distance within two weeks. But he has made such good progress he is due to land three days early.

And it's not a moment too soon for Colin, an inexperienced pilot who has reached heights in excess of 5,000ft while navigating strong winds, fog, rain and bumpy heat thermals causing dramatic zero gravity drops.

He has also run out of fuel while flying over water and survived a crash landing.

His colleague Sarn Terry, son of Air Marshall Sir Colin Terry, was injured during a hard landing in Scotland so Colin has made most of the epic journey on his own.

Speaking from Norfolk where Colin was grounded by high winds, he said: "It has been hairy to say the least and every time I get ready for take off there are knots in my stomach.

"The warmer weather has brought new challenges – bumpy heat thermals that cause a sudden drop in gravity. It’s been like riding a roller coaster. But I’m determined to finish this challenge to raise money for Help for Heroes. There are so many people out there who face far more difficult challenges every day and who deserve our support."

Colin’s flight path has been along the East coast of the UK, stopping several times a day to refuel or camp for the night.

He said his spirits had been lifted by the warm welcome he’s received from so many people along the route and the generosity of farmers who’ve let him land in their fields…sometimes in an emergency.

"Everywhere we’ve been, people have come out to offer us food and drinks, a field to land and camp in and encouragement," he said. "It’s been amazing."

To help him on this last exhausting leg of the journey, Colin has asked people to toot their horns or wave.

The Duke of York’s Royal Military School's headmaster Charles Johnson said the whole school and their marching will come out in military uniform to welcome Colin.

"Our students have been following Colin’s progress in this a truly inspirational feat. Help for Heroes is an incredibly good cause and one which is close to the hearts of our students whose families serve in the Armed Forces."

The whole expedition from first training, to take off in John O’Groats and landing in Dover, is being filmed by a professional film crew for a documentary/DVD which will raise more money for Help4heroes.