Banking giant Abbey National has given its backing to a project getting disabled people into work which was launched yesterday.

Disability @ Work is the product of a partnership made up of the bank, Bradford Council, Bradford NHS Hospitals Trust and the Asian Disability Network.

Its aim is to bring together disabled people looking for work and the companies able to take them on.

Abbey National, which has its northern headquarters in Bradford, is playing a key role in the project by forming a local employers' Disability Equality Network and offering job placements for disabled people.

Lord Tugendhat, chairman of the bank, was one of those present at the launch, held at the Hanover International Hotel. He said: "Disabled people have much to contribute in the workplace and employers have a major responsibility and role to play in ensuring equality and quality of treatment."

Another project given its official launch yesterday was the Abbey National Disability Inclusion through Employment (ANDIE) scheme which is run at nine sites throughout England, Scotland and Wales, including Bradford.

The programme works in conjunction with specialist colleges providing vocational training and rehabilitation for unemployed, disabled adults.

One of those ANDIE has helped is former builder Bill Lewis, 50, who gave a speech at the launch.

He said: "For many years I was incapable of doing any lifting work but it was impossible to find any other type of work.

"When I was finally given the opportunity of work experience, a four-week placement with Stiell Facilities, I was over the moon."

Councillor Simon Cooke, executive member for the economy, said: "This new partnership aims to help more disabled people into work through the support of the Council's Work-Able programme, the Asian Disability Network and the commitment of employers."