Elected mayor Dorothy Thonrhill learned about the work of "neurokinex", a non-profit neurorehab centre in Rhodes Way, Watford, last week.

She toured the premises and chatted to members of a local Multiple Sclerosis support group, which meets there regularly.

She also spoke to Jayne Bright, mother of Irish Jockey JonJo Bright, who travels over from Northern Ireland to use the specialist facilities every month following his spinal cord injury just over a year ago.

Mayor Thornhill said: "It’s great to see such innovation in the town of Watford, and the distances that people travel to come here reinforces the work that neurokinex do."

The visit coincided with the launch of a new partnered training programme for people with MS.  It aims to link individuals with MS so that they can benefit from the equipment and expertise of the trainers at the centre. 

Neurokinex director Jo Godfreysaid: "We are launching this programme in order to make the programme more accessible.

"We’ve run a couple of trials and saw pairing people together who maybe fatigue easily and need more rest as a great opportunity, while one rests their partner can work. Exercise is for everyone, and we are committed to making that a reality for people with neurological conditions."

Established in 2007 for spinal cord injury, it has evolved into one of the most diverse and inclusive programmes available in the UK providing short, medium and long-term health solutions for people living with partial or complete paralysis.