A KARATE teacher has set up a consultancy firm to help employees deal with violence in the work place.

After 30 years as a karate teacher, Owen Murray has now set his sights on helping workers deal with verbal and physical abuse from the public.

With the help of the North East of England Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) at Sunderland Enterprise Park, the karate black belt and aggression management expert has now set up Sure Safe, based at South Hylton in Sunderland.

Mr Murray, 51, lost his left hand in a printing accident when he was 20-years-old, but went on to captain the Sunderland Karate team which won the national championships in 1991. He was also part of the British team that clinched two gold medals at the European championships in the 1980s.

Now the aggression management expert is helping to teach workers restraining techniques and how to defuse situations and escape physical attack.

Already a number of hospitals and housing associations have enlisted his help.

He said: "Statistics show an increase in physical and non-physical violence in the workplace and for employers to meet obligations under Health and Safety regulations, training should be considered where employees come into contact with verbal or physical abuse."

Mr Murray was awarded the MBE in 1994 in recognition of his sporting achievements and charity fundraising efforts.