THE popular BBC programme Songs of Praise is visiting St Michael's Church in Flixton to film a story about one of its worshippers, James McCarthy - a man described as an 'inspiration' by the vicar there.

In March 2009, the 31-year-old from Flixton had a car crash while driving on the motorway. He was cut of the car, taken to hospital and after having a number of tests he was diagnosed with a brain tumour the size of a fist. James had emergency surgery to remove the full frontal left lobe of his brain.

After learning to walk, talk, read and write again he underwent six weeks of radiotherapy, while still managing to attend a kickboxing class once a week. Shortly after finishing his radiotherapy, he started studying for a degree at the University of Salford.

After three long years of hard work and many weekends spent in the library, James achieved a 2:1 BSc(Hons) in business management. In September 2013, James started a Masters degree at Manchester University, but after a routine follow up he received the devastating news that the tumour had returned as a cancerous tumour.

He has set up a charity, to raise awareness of brain tumours and proton beam therapy.

With the help of the vicar at St Michael's, the Rev Victoria Johnson, James is working through a 'bucket list' that includes driving an Aston Martin and meeting Manchester United Class of '92, the iconic youth team that included David Beckham.

She said: "As a church, we are trying to support James and his family in whatever way we can, he is an inspiration to all of us. I think that the Songs of Praise team have also been inspired by James and his story, and we're looking forward to welcoming them to our little church on Sunday."

James recently went on pilgrimage to Lourdes in France and with the Songs of Praise team, and his story will be broadcast early in 2015.