WORK has begun on the construction of a new fully accessible residential unit at a Kendal activity centre.

Bendrigg Trust at Old Hutton offers outdoor activities and courses for disabled and disadvantaged people, and the new 24-bed accommodation will allow those with severe disabilities to take full advantage of what the centre has to offer.

Trevor Clarke MBE, the principal of Bendrigg Trust, said that the new accommodation would mean that everybody would be able to enjoy Bendrigg, no matter how able bodied they were.

"It's all on one floor and you can get a wheelchair anywhere," he said. "We are getting more and more groups and visitors with more severe disabilities and people have enquired about coming to stay at Bendrigg and the current accommodation is not suitable for them."

He said Acorn House will effectively replace the annexe that Bendrigg currently offers, which was built in 1986 and is not wheelchair-friendly.

Those who visit Bendrigg are able to climb, canoe and go caving - activities that Mr Clarke says should be available to everybody.

"It's absolutely crucial people with disabilities can enjoy activities," he said. "A lot of disabled children miss out on adventures that able bodied children can take for granted."

Over the past three years, the Trust has raised almost £1.1million to start the project and it is now looking to fundraise the the final £200,000 needed to fit the building out with ceiling-mounted hoists, profile beds and specialist disability equipment to ensure full inclusivity.

As well as en-suite bedrooms for residential visitors, wheelchair accessible shower rooms, a lounge, and dining and kitchen facilities suitable for wheelchair users, Acorn House will also boast a community games room and inclusive play area.

To officially begin the building work, the High Sheriff of Cumbria, the Rev Richard Lee, cut the first turf on Monday.

Mr Clarke said that the building work would be completed by February and that the Trust was already taking bookings for next May.

"Bendrigg is a very special place," said Mr Clarke. "And this will make it even more special. Nobody who comes to Bendrigg is stopped from doing any activities, we will find a way to make sure that they can do everything."