An Usk couple have told how they are both part of the core medical team for the Olympics and Paralympics.

Merion Howells, a sports massage therapist, was part of the team working with Olympic footballers while his wife Sarah is one of only 25 osteopaths chosen to work at the 'polyclinic' in the athletes' village during the Paralympics.

"It is a great honour to be selected," said Sarah, who also worked as an osteopath for the Canadian equestrian team at the Athens and Sydney Olympics.

"This is the first time osteopaths have been included as part of the core medical team and to be one of only 25 at the Games is an incredible privilege.

"The core medical team is provided by LOCOG and athletes can come and get anything they need – x-rays, MRI scans – it is how medicine should work.

"You have to deal with whatever walks through the door so there is lots of pressure but it's very exciting."

Merion spent a week working in Glasgow as the football teams prepared for the competition.

"The medical team was based at the Hilton and at another hotel in Glasgow, and we were each given a room from which we could provide treatment.

"Each football venue had its own medical family including nurses, doctors, physios and massage therapists.

"Volunteering was a long process – we both submitted our applications two years ago and were told we were successful via letter just a couple of months before the event.

"I applied for a two-week shift and got one week, but it really was wonderful to be a part of it."