AN INJURED police officer has been given a helping hand on his way back to fitness.

A motorcycle crash left Superintendent Ian Rowland of Cleveland Police with paralysis to his left arm and leg and nerve damage to his left arm.

The 46-year-old is part of a three-man team rowing 3,000 miles on a rowing machine in aid of the Stroke Association.

Until now friends have had to strap him in and tie his hand to the machine.

Trainee engineers with the Teesside Training and Enterprise (TTE) organisation have now made him a shaped aluminium and Velcro, padded gauntlet so he can hook his hand on to the rowing handle.

They worked to a design drawn up by another police officer, Inspector Steve Kielty.

Supt Rowland said: "TTE have been absolutely fantastic. The prototype does need some extra work but they are determined to modify the design and fitting until everything is perfect.

"Steve's design is simple and practical.

"The trainees at TTE have worked on his initial sketches and come up with a prototype that not only benefits me but many others like me who want that chance to have an extra bit of independence.''