INJURED National Hunt jockey Scott Taylor reopened the Cumberland Arms, in Bishop Auckland, on Friday night.

The pub is a favourite of many of Scott's racing friends, including former jockey and equine dentist Dean Crossman.

It was closed for six weeks to be refurbished.

The pub has held a number of fundraising events for Shildon Boxing Club, many members of which have been stable lads.

So the pub is now decked out with both boxing and horse racing memorabilia, including a signed photograph of Scott, who was injured in a fall at Perth Racecourse, in August last year.

The 28-year-old, from Fishburn, County Durham, spent almost a year in hospital recovering from head injuries, which left him unable to walk and with speech difficulties.

He has returned home and is making progress with walking and talking.

Landlady Avril Proud, who runs the pub with husband Geoff, decided Scott would be the perfect choice to perform the opening ceremony.

She said: "It was a brilliant night. The pub was a bit run down when we came here, but it looks absolutely fabulous now."