STRICKEN sword champ Neil Ross has been backed to the hilt by the might of the British Army.

Britain's top wheelchair sabre swordsman had his dreams of Euro gold shattered when thieves grabbed all his fencing gear in a raid on his Tyldesley home.

Special equipment, with little or no resale value went missing in the early New Year burglary and, in spite of heart-rending pleas, none of it has been recovered.

But now the Army has stepped in to get Neil to next month's European championships on time.

Royal Engineers physically fitness instructor QMSI Mick Stott leapt into action when he read about Neil's plight in The Journal. Leigh-lad Mick, a former karate champion and signwriter, called in the might of the Army to sort the problem.

As a result PT expert Mick headed north from his Kent base with replacement weapons, bag and competition equipment courtesy of the men from his unit, 1 RSME Regiment Royal Engineers.

Sappers have also promised to have a whip-round to fund a replacement jacket for Neil.

Mick handed-over the gear, including items donated by John O'Neill of Chiswick-based Duellist Enterprises, to a delighted Neil outside his Lynton Road home.

And the rat who nicked Neil's gear is unlikely to accept any invite to test "his" equipment in a duel at dawn.

"I'd certainly like to put them through it," commented Mick.

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