STEVE Arnold from Tidworth has been selected as vice-captain for the UK team for the Paralympic-style Invictus Games due to be held in Toronto, Canada in September.

Mr Arnold, who served as a staff sergeant with 28 Engineer Regiment, lost both of his legs above the knee when he stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED) while leading a search team in Afghanistan in April 2011.

Following this he took up hand cycling through the Help For Heroes Sports Recovery Programme.

He was selected for the British Cycling development team and represented his country at last year’s Paralympic Games in Rio, as well as participating in the 2014 Invictus Games in London.

Arnold spoke about his selection for the Invictus Games and said: “Being chosen for the Invictus Games this year makes me feel very honoured and proud.

“If I had only been selected for the cycling event that would have been enough for me but to also be one of the vice-captains of the UK team makes it feel even better.

"I cannot wait to help mak e this journey an incredible experience for everyone involved. Bring on Toronto!”

Despite heading to Toronto for the games, Steve has now turned his attention to para-Nordic skiing, and is eyeing up a place in the Paralympic side heading to PyeongChang, South Korea, but is using the Invictus games to compete against other elite athletes.

This year’s Invictus Games is from September 23 to 30 with the UK team of 90 competing in 11 sports – athletics, archery, wheelchair basketball, cycling, powerlifting, indoor rowing, wheelchair rugby, swimming, sitting volleyball, wheelchair tennis and, new for 2017, golf.