A Cowbridge veteran has been presented with a custom-built sports wheelchair at a presentation hosted at Ambassadeurs Group in London.

Corporal Rob Bugden, who was in the RAF for almost eight years before becoming paralysed after a parachute jumping accident in January 2016, and two other veterans received the wheelchairs on July 12 from Ben Wallace, the Minister of State for Veterans' Affairs, Johnny Mercer MP, and Steve Baker MP, in partnership with the OppO Foundation. 

All recipients will use the wheelchairs in their quest to compete in elite-level sports and hopefully the Paralympic Games. 

None of the recipients knew about the presentations prior to the event and the surprise announcement was made as the evening unfolded. 

Mr Wallace said: "It's one thing to say you support veterans and it's a completely different thing to actually do something about it. 

"The OppO Foundation and Team OppO is all about converting that support into reality for our veterans. 

"It's been brilliant to see in action some of the support that's been given, and I can't thank any of you enough for coming here and contributing by being here to support our veterans. 

"The privilege of being defence secretary is that I have the responsibility of the before, during and after of our personnel, the men and women of our armed forces. 

"If all these foundations and charities do anything it is to advertise that veterans are really valuable to your work, to your society and to your sport and your country and if you value your veterans you value your country. 

"Thank you very much to OppO, it's been fantastic." 

Kayam Iqbal, founder of The OppO Foundation charity which organised the event and the donations, said: "Each of these wheelchairs costs around £7,000 and they genuinely change the lives of the recipients. 

"It was a very emotional evening, especially as those receiving the chairs had no idea about the donation. Donating wheelchairs to veterans with a sporting goal is a clear way of making a difference. 

"Working with AG, which is focused on building better futures, to deliver on this goal has helped accelerate the ambitions of Team OppO, the OppO Foundation project which focuses on veterans who are using sports in their recovery. 

"Thank you to the Ambassadeurs group for supporting the work of The OppO Foundation." 

The wheelchairs were purchased with a £25,000 donation from the group. Donations were made as part of Team OppO, the foundation's project supporting a large number of injured veterans wishing to use sports as a way of recovery.