THREE engineering experts have been given a helping hand in their efforts to make life easier for disabled people in the Bolton area.

The trio make special adaptations in their free time to help people in coping with their disability.

Their voluntary work was recognised when a cheque for £200 towards their costs was handed over by the Bolton-le-Moors Rotary Club.

Now the group, who form the Rehabilitation Engineering Movement Advisory Panel (REMAP) for the Bolton, Bury and Rochdale area, is seeking to attract more members to expand their work in providing solutions for the individual needs of disabled people.

REMAP was formed by engineers, handymen and others working at ICI in Billingham, Teeside, back in 1964 after one of them began to devise technical aids for his sister who suffered from polio.

Now, there are more than 100 thriving panels throughout the country, utilising the services of about 1,500 professional engineers, technicians, crafts people and healthcare experts.

However, the panel covering Bolton, Bury and Rochdale comprises just three members and an appeal has been launched for more volunteers.

Member Roy Gibbins, from Bolton, said: "We devise and make things for disabled people on a one-off basis.

"Quite often disabled people can need something special which is not produced or for sale on the open market.

"We solve their problems, working on a one-to-one basis, and cover the gaps that bigger organisations, groups or even the National Health Service cannot serve.

"But there are only three us in the Bolton, Bury and Rochdale area. We are all engineers and really could do with recruiting others.

"Referrals can reach REMAP from occupational therapists, other healthcare professionals, charities acting for people with disabilities and sometimes the individuals or their families.

"The work is very varied and everything we do is at no cost to the individual. All panel members give their time freely and therefore our expenses cover the cost of materials needed to arrive at each solution.

"Where we cannot fulfil the needs we occasionally involve local higher education colleges or universities. We have been known to get considerable help from local industries as well.

"This presentation of a cheque from the Bolton-le-Moors Club will be well used in providing the materials needed to help improve the lifestyles of local people.

"However, our plea to the general public is for individuals who would like to channel their free time and enthusiasm for making things and solving problems to come to our REMAP meetings and directly help people in great need."

Anyone interested in joining should contact Roy on 596898.

Examples of the best projects carried out by REMAP teams, include a collapsible supermarket trolley, an electric hoist to enable home dialysis and a motorised computer work station for a woman with severe back problems.