A LANCASHIRE rehabilitation centre is set to get a share of £6.7million of funding to improve its provisions for ex-servicemen and women.

Preston Specialist Mobility and Rehabilitation Centre is among the facilties to receive the cash injection, which will mean East Lancashire veterans will be able to receive top class care closer to home.

Sgt Rick Clement, who is originally from Chatburn in the Ribble Valley, was serving with the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment in Afghanistan when he stepped on an improvised explosive device.

He lost both his legs in the blast and said it was great news that treatment could soon be provided on the NHS near his home town.

He said: “I think this money is definitely a good thing.

“I have still got ongoing care through the mimitary, most of which is in Birmingham.

“This is a really good thing for ex-servicemen and women because they won’t have to travel as far.

“It is not ideal so to have a centre in the North West is much better.”

Health Minister Dr Dan Poulter announced that Preston was one of nine NHS services across the country set to benefit from additional funding.

The money will be used to access the latest technology and provide the highest quality of prosthetic care for veteran amputees.

Dr Poulter said: “Ex-servicemen and women who have been injured in the line of duty deserve the very best possible care from the NHS.

“This is why we are making more funding available to improve veterans’ prosthetic limb services - and £22 million in total between 2010 and 2015 to support veterans' physical and mental health.

“We want to ensure that our Armed Forces veterans have access to the very best healthcare services at specialist prosthetic and rehabilitation centres across the country.

“In time, these NHS centres will achieve the same high standards of care for veterans that are offered by Armed Forces rehabilitation centres, such as Headley Court.”

The NHS Commissioning Board will work with military charities and the NHS to finalise the amount each service will receive.