A PATH giving disabled people the chance to enjoy the seafront has been unveiled thanks to the Echo's help.

The Beach Wheelchair Pathway, next to the old Tramshack shelter in Thorpe Esplanade, Thorpe Bay, was officially opened by Southend mayor Judy McMahon and representatives from the Tram Stop Shelter charity.

The project was funded by a £9,400 grant from the Gannet Foundation, run by the Echo's parent company.

The charity is in the process of raising £200,000 to rebuild the former tram shelter, which was demolished due to its poor state of repair.

Its work also includes improving seafront facilities for disabled people as part of the Caring on Sea project.

Charity chairman Bob Craven, 68, said: “The pathway was based on research we did in other UK resorts to get wheelchair visitors on the beach because nowhere in Southend can you take a wheelchair onto the beach itself.

“All these people were coming to Southend in wheelchairs and not being able to get on the beach – for many of them it was like ‘Chinese torture’ watching everyone else enjoy themselves.

“Then in April we got a cheque for £9,400 from the Echo out of the Gannett Foundation."

The grand unveiling was well attended by disabled adults and children, including pupils from Kingsdown School, in Snakes Lane, Southend.

Mr Craven added: "We had so many wheelchair users of various ages at our grand opening on Saturday.

“There were special needs children with various serious disabilities and the smiles on their faces caused me to break down – you could see for the very first time they were enjoying being down there on the sand and hearing the sea – it was just wonderful.”

The Echo’s grant also enabled the charity to buy an all-terrain Hippocampe wheelchair, available to any child between the ages of five and 15 years.

Its large lightweight tyres enable it to be used on the beach without needing tp use the new path – which is open until the end of September.

Mr Craven added the shelter itself will form a part of the Caring on Sea project, meaning it could be enjoyed by disabled and non-disabled alike.

He said: “The shelter will contain a disabled toilet for the public and a room with special toilet, sink, changing table and hoist for the severely disabled.

“Some disabled people also need electricity to work equipment for certain medication that has to be taken every two hours, so the shelter is going to be an integral part of that package.

“It will also be available for members of the public to use as a viewing area and taking cover from the elements.”

For more information on the shelter, visit tramstopshelter.co.uk