A double-leg amputee previously wheelchair bound has qualified as a gym instructor and now hopes to encourage more disabled people to take up exercise through his work placement at Watford YMCA gym.

Shane Hurley has been a double leg amputee from six months old after his mother came into contact with German measles during the pregnancy.

The 32-year-old played football, cricket, tennis and did swimming throughout his childhood - but a knee injury eventually left him wheelchair bound.

Now Shane, a qualified level 2 gym instructor, says his goal is to prove there should be no barriers because of disability for people using the gym and is hoping to forge a career in the fitness industry.

Shane, who lived in Garston before moving to Welwyn Garden City three years ago, said: "Exercise is a massive part of my life now and part of my everyday routine. If I can help one disabled person who has been in a similar situation as I was in, it will be worth all the hard work.

"The gym can be a place for everyone and I will work my hardest to break down these boundaries."

Shane started using Aspire gym after a life-changing operation to get him out of his wheelchair and walking on prosthetic limbs at the end of 2013.

The former St Michael’s Catholic High School pupil said: "Things became so severe in my later 20s, it led to me being wheelchair bound until I could have surgery to stabilize my kneecap.

"During this time I felt very isolated and cut myself off from the outside world as I found it hard to adjust to not being able to do any kind of physical activity.

"This also led to me gaining a lot of weight which did not help with my confidence and motivation."

He continued: "The operation was fully successful and made me feel so much more confident."

As soon as the stitches were out he was back in the gym, until one of the instructors suggested he apply for the InstructAbility Programme.

Shane said: "I was ready and determined to become a gym instructor, so that I could help people in a similar situation.

"I am confident, when this work placement has finished, I will be able to gain a full time career in the fitness industry and I am planning to do a level 3 personal trainer qualification in the near future."