'Every beach should have accessible wheelchairs'

Jo Whitehouse hired a beach wheelchair while on holiday in Lincolnshire and said it made her "grin like an idiot"

A woman has called for all beaches to have accessible wheelchairs after she had an "amazing experience".

Jo Whitehouse, who took part in triathlons and, in 2011 a Channel swim, hired a beach wheelchair in Ingoldmells, Lincolnshire, this summer.

The 52-year-old said it got her back to her "happy place", adding: "I did nothing but grin like an idiot, it was amazing to actually be on the beach and get my feet a bit wet."

A spokesperson for Beach Ability Lincolnshire, which loaned the beach wheelchair to Ms Whitehouse, said it wanted all the county's beaches to be accessible. The charity is planning to expand its services into two more resorts next year.

Jo Whitehouse: "It was amazing to actually be on the beach and get my feet a bit wet"

It currently has seven wheelchairs to suit different needs and a walker, all of which are free to use at Ingoldmells beach.

Ms Whitehouse, of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2002.

She was visiting the resort this summer with her husband. She said: "Being in the water, on the beach and by the seaside generally, is one of my happy places.

"Being in the open air and around nature has proven to be beneficial for many people. This is something every council, beach and charity should get behind."

Sharron Boam with her son Andrew, 31

Sharron Boam, who lives near Mansfield, also hired a beach wheelchair for her 31-year-old son Andrew Boam this summer.

Andrew, who cannot walk or talk, was "laughing his head off" when he was able to get a taste of the sea, his mum said.

"He was very excited because every time we come to Ingoldmells, he's pointing to the sea and sand but we can't get him on there.

"As soon as we got on to the sand he was really happy and smiley. It nearly made me cry."

Mrs Boam added that the beach wheelchairs are important because "otherwise he'd just be sat on the edge watching everyone else".

Teresa Marie Price, chair of trustees at the charity, said it was working with local councils and parish councils to get permissions to make all Lincolnshire beaches accessible. "We are currently waiting on two resorts' permissions and hopefully we will be up and running with them in March 2026."

Mary Powell, tourism manager at Lincolnshire County Council, added that beach accessibility aids were a "great initiative" that had already had fantastic benefits for Ingoldmells visitors with disabilities.

"Anything that improves accessibility on our beaches, meaning families can enjoy the sun and sea together, can only be a good thing," she said.

Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.

Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices