Afzal Anwar supports Chloe Holgate's campaign to return to college in September

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 27th Jun 2008

A Pendle teenager left paralysed after falling 20 feet from a road bridge on to a bare stone riverbank aims to say "I'm back".

Chloe Holgate (17), of Newchurch, has told family and friends she wants to return to college in September to resume her A-level studies.

Nelson and Colne College staff and students played a game of cricket to raise money to buy Chloe an electric wheelchair, her passport to freedom. The game was played at the Nelson Cricket Club ground.

Afzal Anwar, PPC for Pendle Liberal Democrats, played for the Nelson and Colne College staff team. Afzal said "This is a noble cause and we should help Chloe to get back to college. I am an ex-student of the college and it is a privilege to play for the staff team for such a good cause."

"I will in future do everything I can to help Chloe. She was studying law A-level at college. I am a lawyer myself and in that capacity I will be willing to help her in the future if she chooses to pursue the same career."

Chloe and a friend were sitting on the Higherford bridge parapet near the Bridge Inn when she fell backwards on to the dry riverbed last September. She suffered spinal injuries that have left her paralysed from her chest down. Chloe is able to move her arms and both thumbs, but not her hands or fingers.

Chloe left Fisher-More Catholic Humanities College, Colne, last summer and had just started at Nelson and Colne College, studying law, business, accountancy and sociology.

The wheelchair could cost between £3,000 and £12,000 depending on how many features it will have.