THE wife of a Colchester-based soldier is taking on an extraordinary 10-tonne challenge to raise money for injured troops.

Paula Ireland, who works for a local health trust, was in training yesterdayfor her record attempt to pull an Army lorry across a parade ground.

Paula, 30, decided to help raise money for a charity which helps ex-servicemen who have lost limbs after a friend of hers was injured in Afghanistan.

She hopes that her great heave at Colchester’s new Merville Barracks on October 17 will raise more than �2,000.

Paula, who is just 5ft 5ins tall, is not deterred by the physical challenge of moving the camouflage-painted MAN lorry on her own.

She has already competed in a Dublin marathon, taken part in a gruelling river mud race, and next plans to compete in a Sahara desert marathon.

She said yesterday: “This will require a real effort but I’m determined and confident I can do it to set a new record.

“It has been done by someone pulling a four-tonne lorry but my vehicle with a driver to steer it and 300 litres of fuel will weigh almost 11 tonnes.”

Paula’s husband, Corporal Adam Ireland, 28, a section commander in B Company 2 Parachute Regiment, is proud of her fundraising efforts.

He said: “But I’m not surprised – Paula goes in for bodybuilding and plays women’s rugby too.”

Yesterday Cpl Ireland’s platoon were on hand to cheer on Paula at her practice pull.

She added: “It’s partly about technique. Once you get the lorry rolling you just have to keep the momentum up.”