BRITAIN'S only amputee driving instructor has been praised at an award ceremony highlighting unsung heroes.

Barnoldswick man Gareth Almond lost his right arm in a motorcycle accident 30 years ago, but is now able to expertly drive and teach in both manual and automatic cars without any special modifications.

And the former policeman is also the country's most successful disabled motor sport competitor, winning 250 events over 25 years - many at national level and always against able-bodied rivals.

Mr Almond won a runners-up prize worth £7,000 at the Barclays Trading Places Awards after setting up the Bulldog Spirit Driving School just over a year ago.

Working from his home in Meadow Way, Mr Almond specialises in teaching disabled pupils who, he says, can learn from his example.

And the 52-year-old said: "This is a marvellous moment in my life.

"I hope other people who find themselves in the same situation I faced will realise that disabled doesn't mean dysfunctional and that you really can start again and build a new life."

Mr Almond, who is married to Karrie and has three sons, lost his arm in 1973 after he was hit by a drink-driver. He also had to retire from the police force.

He said: "It was the end of the world for me. I was in my early 20s with my whole life ahead of me and suddenly it's all been smashed to pieces and I'm lying in a hospital bed wondering if I'll ever be able to come to terms with it.

"But you get to a point where you have got to say to yourself: Am I just going to lie down and take this or am I going to get up and do something about it?' That was the turning point."

Mr Almond is fanatical about motorsport and currently competes in extreme rallying, which involves hurtling across all types of unforgiving terrain in his stripped-out and turbocharged Land Rover.

John Davis, a Barclays director and chair of the judging panel, said: "We hope his inspiring story will prove to others that self-employment can be rewarding if you've got the guts and determination to succeed."

He picked up his prize at a ceremony at London's Cafe Royal last week.