A DISABLED support group in Darlington has criticised a new children's fund for targeting specific areas of the town.

The Darlington Children's Fund, a Government initiative, is spending 65 per cent of £800,000 awarded on the Firth Moor and Red Hall areas of the town.

The fund's spending is being co-ordinated by the Children's Society and Investing in Children.

But a new support group, Make a Difference in Darlington (Madd) which helps parents and carers of disabled children in the town, has criticised the new fund for concentrating on just two areas.

The group's secretary, Colin Iddon, said: "I was appalled to see that as usual it is the Firth Moor and Red Hall areas singled out to benefit from this fund.

"May I remind the people concerned that Darlington is a much bigger place and children don't just live in these two areas.

"Areas like Cockerton and Albert Hill and all the others could benefit from some of this money."

Mr Iddon said he and others had hoped the fund would make more places available on the Darlington After-School and Holiday scheme (Dash), which runs days out for disabled children, giving their parents a much-needed break.

But Dan Connolly, programme manager for the fund, said: "Sixty-five per cent of the money will be targetted on Firth Moor and Red Hall and 35 per cent will go to other groups across Darlington, including helping young people with disabilities.

"I am aware of the issues in terms of being able to extend the support that Dash can give and we are looking to work with disabled young people so we can get their views directly.

"I think it is wrong to say that all the money is being targetted at Firth Moor and Red Hall."

Madd is a new group, formed with the help of Barnados in Darlington, which offers advice and support for parents and carers of disabled children.

Mr Iddon, whose six-year-old daughter Kirsty was born with cyto-megalo virus which caused her to develop cerebal palsy, said Madd was hoping to attract more members.

Anyone interested in joining can contact Mr Iddon on (01325) 266808 or Andy Cope of Barnados on (01325) 254437