BURY South MP Ivan Lewis helped a Radcliffe company celebrate a double occasion this week.

He joined 80 employees and guests at Remploy's manufacturing unit in Eton Hill Road during the International Day of Disabled People on Monday (Dec 3).

And Mr Lewis marked the event by presenting some staff with Remploy's Making a Difference at Work awards and launching a new company booklet.

The awards, given to employees who have made a difference at work by improving their own or other people's working lives, were received by Sue Raymond, Michael Olive and Lorraine McClelland. Mr Ray Fletcher, Remploy personnel director, said: "People can make a difference to themselves and others at work in so many different ways and this was our opportunity to show our appreciation."

The Bury South MP also launched Remploy's Positive Employment: A Practical Guide to the Disability Discrimination Act booklet.

This guide offers an up-to-date interpretation of current legislation and offers clear but simple advice on how employers can meet legal obligations.

International Day of Disabled People was proclaimed in 1992 to "promote understanding about disability issues and to increase awareness of gains to be derived from integrating disabled people into all aspects of political, social, economic and cultural life."

Remploy is the UK's largest employer of disabled people with 6,000 people employed in 81 operational units and a further 4,000 in work placements through Interwork.

The company's turnover for last year amounted to £155.5 million.