A FRUSTRATED mum is campaigning for parks to have facilities installed that are suitable for disabled children to play on.

Christie Hermiston claims the parks near her Atherton home are totally unsuitable for her two-year-old daughter Elise Bancks, who has cerebral palsy, and other disabled children.

The 28-year-old, of Buttercup Close, raised her concerns with national disability charity Scope ahead of last week's General Election when she was asked what changes she would like to see over the next five years.

She is now in talks with Friends of Atherton Parks about having equipment installed that is safe and enjoyable for disabled children to play on.

Christie said: “Elise cannot join in with other kids at parks as there is nothing she can use.

“The swings do not have any backing on them to keep her in place and nothing else is safe enough either.

“It is not a problem which is limited to Atherton though.

"It is everywhere.

“There needs to be more work done across the country to make it easier for disabled children to have fun at the park and hopefully that issue will be addressed quickly.

“We are originally from Newcastle and we once went to a park there which had a sensory garden with things like padlocks, which Elise loved playing with.

"She also enjoyed pressing the buttons on the light switches there.

“I think we need something like that here.”

Friends of Atherton Parks secretary Carol Roberts said: “We are looking into options available to help Christie and have arranged a meeting with her.

“We may be able to include a specially-adapted swing or something similar in the park.

“We will have to look at what funds and grants are available to us but we are feeling quietly confident we can help in some way.”

Committee member Stuart Gerrard, who is the chairman of Atherton Residents Association, said: “We are trying to upgrade all parts of the park and make it accessible to all.”

Christie, who lives with her partner David, 36, Elise and stepdaughter Lucy, eight, also believes nurseries should be more tailored for disabled children and would like to see a support group set up for parents experiencing similar problems.

“I know there are a lot of parents like me but I only seem to meet them at hospital appointments and therapy classes.

“It would be nice to see them in a more casual situation, like a drop-in group. That is something I would love to be involved with."