AN ACCESSIBLE beach hut with a wheelchair ramp has opened after four years of fundraising.

Thera East, a non-profit organisation which supports adults with a learning disability, has finished work on the beach hut, now called 109 Dolphins Bay, at Dovercourt Bay beach.

People supported by Thera East set up the project to open an accessible beach hut in Dovercourt about four years ago and have been fundraising through tombolas, danceathons and coffee mornings, family and community donations.

They then painted the hut while residents in the town donated kitchen appliances, tables and chairs and bunting.

Bridie Stanford, executive assistant at Thera East, said: “It has been lovely getting together with everyone to paint the hut, then stopping for chips by the sea.

"We can’t wait to see what the future holds and we hope everyone enjoys using the beach hut as much as we have enjoyed setting it up.”

The beach hut is available for public hire with discounts for those supported by Thera.

There is a ramp for wheelchairs and its open plan to manoeuvre around, plus there is a key to the accessible changing facilities/hoists and toilets close by.

For more information call 0740 331 6735 or email bridie.stanford@thera.co.uk.