STAFF and regulars at a pub have thrown their weight behind a fundraising campaign to help to improve a disabled man's mobility.

The Blue Bell Inn, in Boroughbridge, is hoping to raise £3,000 for the Robert Hornby Trust Fund, which was set up to help 19-year-old Rob Hornby, who has been wheelchair-bound since suffering a brain haemorrhage four years ago.

The money will allow Rob to buy specialist equipment that will greatly improve his quality of life. A charity day has been held and pub manager Graham Atkinson is planning a sponsored bungee jump.

The pub was bought by Jennings Brothers, the Cumbrian brewer and pub operator, earlier this year.

Along with pub management company Caven Taverns Ltd, which holds the licence for the premises, Jennings has carried out a three-month refurbishment of the pub at a cost of £190,000.

Richard Caven, who runs Caven Taverns with his brother, Michael, said: "The Blue Bell is our second pub, and we are striving to restore it to its rightful place at the hub of the community. Local charity work is a big part of this.

"With the help of Jennings, and the residents of Boroughbridge, we can achieve our aims, not only in terms of helping Rob Hornby and other local charities, but also in earning the Blue Bell a strong reputation as an important community facility."