VETERAN Heartbeat star Bill Maynard is being written back into TV's most-watched drama series despite being described as "an uninsurable risk" by Yorkshire TV bosses, after a third stroke left him paralysed.

The announcement came yesterday from group controller of drama, Keith Richardson, after Maynard, who plays loveable rogue Greengrass, successfully completed shooting four scenes on Thursday.

Mr Richardson said: "I will be talking to the scriptwriters about looking at storylines so that Greengrass can return for the last few episodes.

"When Bill phoned me to say he would be paralysed in a wheelchair for the rest of his life we made contingency plans. Now we are looking to bring him back."

Maynard's illness left Yorkshire with an unfinished Christmas special, 16 episodes still to shoot and a rapid decision to bring in former Coronation Street star Geoffrey Hughes as a new scallywag called Vernon Cripps.

Maynard, who will be 72 on Sunday, said: "When I managed to walk three steps after three weeks I cried my bloody eyes out. I don't know what Yorkshire are going to ask me to do. My contract has been terminated and I don't know where I am in relation to Geoffrey Hughes becoming the Heartbeat scallywag.

"I've been written out as winning the pools and going to the West Indies to see my sister. I'm less mobile but, if the scripts are right, I would like to come back. Thora Hird seems to manage well enough on Last Of The Summer Wine."

Mr Richardson said that although Hughes' character moves into Greengrass' house there will be a way for the two to work together.

He said: "Bill wants them to be pals, but I see Greengrass becoming nasty about Vernon Cripps being in his house. There will still be room for both characters as rivals in future."

Shooting has been completed on 15 episodes of the 24-part series