A SAILING boat adapted to take wheelchairs has been launched in the region.

Muriel, named after one of the Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club's most dedicated members, Muriel King, 92, was built for £20,000 by Tyneside boatbuilder McNulty.

A Sailability grant of more than £9,400 from the Peter Harrison Foundation, and sponsorship from sailmakers Jekylls, and sparmakers Bossoms, funded the new boat with its distinctive two masts and brown sails.

The vessel carries up to ten people and has tracks for wheelchairs.

The launch at the Derwent Reservoir, in Northumberland, was the realisation of a dream for club manager John Hull, who started the Royal Yachting Association Sailability programme there four years ago.

Since then, more than 600 disabled adults and children have each year discovered the thrills of sailing under the guidance of experienced instructors on the 1,000-acre reservoir.

Mr Hull said: "We already have several boats which we can use for the project, but the biggest boat which we have been using to take groups out sailing together is borrowed from another organisation.

"What we really wanted was a big traditional boat of our own like this which is designed to be used by large groups."