A swing specially adapted for children with physical disabilities has been installed in Kessingland after an appeal by a local grandmother.

Eastern Daily Press: Riley Slater, aged six, enjoying the new swing with his mum Julie. Picture: Mick Howes.Riley Slater, aged six, enjoying the new swing with his mum Julie. Picture: Mick Howes. (Image: Archant)

Trisha Plummer's six-year-old grandson Riley suffers from cerebral palsy, and is unable to sit on the swings without support.

The new DDA swing has been installed at the Church Road play area in the village, and was officially unveiled last Friday.

Mrs Plummer said: 'It has given him independence because now he can sit on the swing on his own and have fun with his friends, which he couldn't do before.

'We couldn't take him to the play area before because there was nothing for him to play on.

'But he has already used it lots and he loves it.'

Funded by Sentinel Leisure Trust and Waveney Norse, the swing is the first piece of equipment in a project to improve access to Waveney District Council (WDC) owned play areas.

A harness to use on the swing has also been donated to Riley, with a spare being held at Sweet Retreat Tearooms adjacent to the play area, for other residents to use.

Mrs Plummer added: 'We would like to say a very big thank you to Simon Walker, property services manager at Waveney Norse, for helping with the swing and enabling the funding to be granted. Without Waveney Norse and its partners it would never have happened. We also thank Kessingland Parish Council for agreeing to the swing going on one of their play areas.'

Plans are now being drawn up to install more of the swings across the district.

Liam Martin, chairman of Kessingland Parish Council, said: 'This will promote inclusion and allow children with disabilities, who could not previously use the equipment, to enjoy the play facilities at Church Road play area, along with other children.'

In April 2015, Sentinel Leisure Trust was commissioned by WDC to undertake the strategic role of play development throughout Waveney. Sentinel audits WDC owned and overlapping provision of play across the district and also the current budgets, resource and management of repair and maintenance of the play provision through Waveney Norse.