AN initiative has been launched to offer disabled people across Sedgefield borough greater access to fitness facilities and sports clubs.

Sedgefield Borough Council's inclusive fitness initiative aims to create wider equality and improve the fitness of people with physical disabilities, learning difficulties or with sight or hearing impairments.

The scheme was launched at Spennymoor Leisure Centre during an event attended by Paralympians Hazel Robson, Mike Simpson, Stephen Miller and Terry Bywater, who praised the move.

The council received a £25,500 grant from Sport England through the national Inclusive Fitness Initiative and boosted the scheme with £10,900 from its own funds.

The cash has paid for new equipment including a specialist exercise bike, treadmill, arm bike and weights machines to be installed at Spennymoor Leisure Centre's fitness suite.

Staff are trained to be more disability aware and fitness instructors attended a four-day training course to learn how to devise exercise programmes specifically for disabled users.

Other venues and local sports clubs are being encouraged to help more disabled people take up physical activity and disabled-friendly facilities and groups will be promoted.

Councillor John Robinson, cabinet member for culture and recreation, said: "We recognise that we have a duty to be open, accessible, fair and responsive to the public.

"We want the borough to be a place where no one experiences discrimination or disadvantage for any unjustifiable reason."

The council was able to secure the grant because of £450,000 of access improvements being carried out at its four leisure centres in Spennymoor, Shildon Sunnydale, Newton Aycliffe and Ferryhill.

Liz Hallet, of the English Federation of Disability Sport, which manages the scheme, said: "Existing laws should mean local authorities make services accessible to all.

"Sedgefield has taken those principles further and has proactively looked to help disabled customers. That is why they were awarded this IFI cash.

"It is important to create equality and also improve the health of disabled people who are often more inclined to coronary heart disease, obesity and lung disease by helping them become more physically active."

Phil Ball, the council's director of leisure services, said: "We want people across the borough participating.

"Our job is to support the voluntary sector that provides so many opportunities for our residents as much as it is to attract money for the best facilities and equipment."