THE design team at a Pendle firm has produced a special device for a disabled teenager tackling a demanding expedition.

Courageous Emma Wallace, 15, of Colne, will be able to take part in the trek as part of her Duke of Edinburgh bronze award scheme after staff at Nelson-based Fort Vale Engineering came up with an unusual 'wheelchair.'

The mono chair is based on a single axle with a car seat and full racing harness to keep Emma, a pupil at Gibfield Special School, Colne, firmly in place as she bumps along. 'Horse-power' will be provided by four team mates who will hold handles at the ends of two poles at either side of the chair. The mono chair will allow Emma to join her classmates on the expedition from Saltaire, Bradford, to Barnoldswick, along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and another route, probably the Dales Way walk between Addingham and Grassington.

An ordinary wheelchair would have been impractical over the rough terrain. Emma usually has crutches or a wheelchair to get around.

Teacher Malcolm Linford, who will lead the expedition, explained: "We had a chair but it was crude and hard work to push along.

"We approached Fort Vale for help and they were marvellous. They couldn't do enough for us. They have put a great deal of time and effort into this project." The chair has been so successful that the school is offering it for use by other disabled individuals and groups.

The full team taking part in the expedition will be Emma Wallace, Nabaz Ahmed, Alan Fairclough, Ian Abbott, Nicky Pearce, Paul Davies and Nigel Shortland.

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