A DISABLED man's ability to score the maximum 180 on the dartboard has meant extra work for himself and his colleagues.

Gary Taylor's co-workers at Remploy's Spennymoor factory promised to make 180 beds a week if he could achieve 12 top scores - and he did just that at a Club and Institute Union tournament in Durham.

A 14-strong team at the Merrington Lane factory has been making divans for a UK bed manufacturer since last year.

Following substantial gains in productivity, team members met to establish a bigger target for the start of this year and workers came up with the 180 challenge.

When Mr Taylor won the Hot Shot of the Tournament title for his 12 top scores in 17 games, production rose to the agreed new target.

Mr Taylor, from Ferryhill, lost significant use of his right hand when it was almost severed in a car accident when he was four years old.

Originally right-handed, he had intensive corrective surgery and physiotherapy to alter the orientation in his brain and become left-handed.

Toys were a key part of his recovery and it was after being given a dartboard that he developed a love for the game.

Now he has won so many trophies that his wife Debbie refuses to polish them all.

Remploy manager Barrie Webster said: "Everyone here is so proud of him and his example spurred everyone on to reach the new weekly figure."