A DAD who launched a petition calling for a disability accessible swing to be installed in the borough says he “broke down in tears” after the council agreed to buy one for the town.

Paul Smailes, from Moss Bank, launched the petition on behalf of his son Luke, 19, who is wheelchair-bound and has learning difficulties due to being born with an extra chromosome.

Paul says Luke just wants to go on a swing “like everyone else”.

However, due to none of the parks in St Helens having a disability swing, families with children who have physical limitations are forced to travel out of the borough.

This led to Paul launching a petition calling for one to be installed.

However after meeting with council leader David Baines, "thrilled" Paul says plans are now going ahead to have a disability swing installed in the borough.

Paul, who is a nurse, said: “Luke loves swings and when he was a student at Mill Green special school he had access to a great one there, but now that he has finished there, there is nowhere else in the borough to take him on one.

"Loads of people signed the petition and honestly I’m made up because when I got to meet David Baines at the council he agreed with me and even offered to do install a disability swing in Taylor Park.

"It’s just fantastic news and when they showed me the plans, which I totally didn’t expect, I just broke down in tears because this isn’t just for my lad it’s for everyone else’s children too.”

Council Leader, Cllr David Baines, said: "As soon as I saw the petition I contacted Mr Smailes and offered to meet with him, and it was a pleasure to meet both Paul and Jackie.

"I fully support the campaign to get a swing for wheelchair users installed in a St Helens borough park.

"Council officers are now working on making this happen, and we're also going to look at providing an adapted roundabout as well.

"Mr and Mrs Smailes have been invited to be a part of the project and I know Council officers - who have done work on this behind the scenes for a while - are looking forward to working with them, making sure that no child or young person in our borough is excluded from play."