A POLICE Rehabilitation Centre, which sees thousands of officers attend with physical and mental health problems, welcomed Dame Kelly Holmes to officially open its refurbished gym.

The centre, at Flint House, was honoured to welcome Dame Kelly Holmes DBE, OLY. to cut the ribbon at the official opening on Wednesday, May 15.

Each year sees more than 3,400 officers attend the centre with physical and mental health injuries and illness.

Double Gold medal winner Dame Kelly Holmes has a particular interest in both mental illness and physical injury, due in no small part to her own well documented problems with injury both whilst still competing as a gold medal athlete and subsequently upon retirement from athletics.

Tom McAuslin, CEO of the Polce Rehabilitation Centre, Flint House, said: "It is a pleasure and honour to have Dame Kelly open our new facility today. As an athlete Kelly was brave and dedicated to her sport which took its toll mentally and physically when competing as well as after retiring. That bravery and her openness has placed Kelly to be an inspirational ambassador particularly for Mental Health sufferers subsequently.”

“That Dame Kelly has taken time to support us today is gratifying and at a time when the modern world is placing new challenges both physical and mental on the police service, shows appreciation for the staff and management of Flint House whilst emphasising the value of having such a facility as Flint House available to the Police service now and in the future”