Free beach-accessible wheelchairs are now available at kiosks by beaches in Great Yarmouth and Gorleston.

Two specialist wheelchairs with large pneumatic wheels capable of sliding over sand are available for free, granting people with limited mobility easy access to the beach without fear of damaging wheelchair wheels or getting stuck in the sand.

One wheelchair is available all year round at the Lower Esplanade and located inside the beach shelter close to the ramp, opposite the strip of shops, cafes and restaurants.

Eastern Daily Press: A beach wheelchair being used in Great Yarmouth.A beach wheelchair being used in Great Yarmouth. (Image: GYBC)The other is currently available from Easter to October at Great Yarmouth Sea Life Centre. A new store is being commissioned by Great Yarmouth Borough Council to enable year-round booking.

Day bookings are essential for both wheelchairs.

READ MORE: Dos and don'ts when visiting Yarmouth beaches

Eastern Daily Press: The Sea Life Centre on Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth.The Sea Life Centre on Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth. (Image: Google)The chairs are supplied with chest straps but do not have head supports. The maximum weight of users of the chair is 18 stone. Children should be at least 3ft tall.

As there is no hoist available at the sites, users must be able to transfer themselves from their usual wheelchair onto the beach wheelchair. People are also required to push the wheelchairs because it is difficult for users to manoeuvre the wheels in the usual way.

Funding for the wheelchairs, kiosks and booking system is provided by the European Union's EXPERIENCE project.

HOW TO BOOK

The Gorleston beach wheelchair is free to hire with one booking per day. People are to book the 8am slot on the booking system. However, the wheelchair can be collected and returned anytime between 8am and 8pm.

On the day of hire, a code will be emailed to the booker to access the wheelchair store. Users will be able to store their usual wheelchairs while using the beach wheelchair.

Bookings can be made up to four weeks ahead at www.clubspark.net/GorlestonBeachWheelchairHub/

The Great Yarmouth beach wheelchair is available from Easter to October between 10am and 4pm. Booking is essential by contacting Ruth Cockrill at marketing@great-yarmouth.gov.uk