HELP for heroes veterans from all over the country are at Catterick Garrison this week to battle it out in the summer games.

Teams made up of wounded, injured and sick servicemen, women and veterans have been put through their paces at the Phoenix House recovery centre in a series of events, including raft building, sitting volleyball, quiz, archery, a swimming gala, cricket and paddle boarding. The competition has been such a spectacular success, following on form sporting events such as the Invictus games, it is now in its fourth year.

For the first time teams from all four Help for Heroes Recovery centres, in Catterick, Plymouth, Colchester and Tidworth are taking part. Phoenix Development Manager Rob Hood said: "For some, it is the first time they have worked as a team since leaving the military and that is what they enjoy the most. We choose the sports that put competitors on a level playing field, be they in a wheelchair, have a prosthetic limb, back injury, whatever, it’s about team work and achieving things you didn’t think you could.”

Dave Shaw,51, a member of the Catterick team, who was injured in Bosnia said “I used to be really fit and going from that to what I am now was hard. I became what some people would think of as ‘being on the scrapheap’ but staff here in Phoenix House showed me that I can do things and be someone again.”