Beach Wheelchairs North Berwick has recently added a power All Terrain wheelchair to its fleet of chairs that are available for free hire.

The x8 All Terrain wheelchair gives wheelchair users unprecedented freedom to explore the beach independently.

Prior to using the wheelchair for the first time customers are shown all the controls and given a bit of a driving test to ensure they and other beach users are safe. It can also be used by a carer through the use of attendant controls.

The wheelchair is available thanks Beach Wheelchairs, a small Scottish Charity that hires specialist equipment for free to let people with disabilities to get onto the beach.

The charity operates at North Berwick, Haven in Seton Sands and at Portobello beach in Edinburgh. All beach wheelchairs can be booked in advance at beachwheelchairs.org where the public can also find out how to support the charity.

North Berwick Beach Wheelchairs has been operational since July 2015 and Portobello since autumn 2017.

In that time the charity has helped hundreds of people to enjoy the simple pleasure of being on the beach at the seaside.  The specialist beach wheelchairs enable families to stay together, children can experience the sensation of the waves and dip their toes in the sea, kids can take part in educational activities with their peers, the charity has even helped a group of wild campers and a number of beach weddings too.