Students are putting their thinking caps on to design a vehicle which can be used by a disabled girl for trips to the beach, writes By Karen Rosine.

Wheelchair-bound Dani Morris, 14, wants to be able to enjoy a day out at the beach - including being able to go out on to the sand.

Dani's parents, who live with her near Newbury, had a buggy specially made last year but found it sank in the sand.

Now a friend of the family, who used to work at Fitzharry's School in Abingdon, has enlisted the school's help in re-designing the machine.

Nineteen students on the intermediate GNVQ engineering course are putting together fresh designs for an improved vehicle.

Frank Klemencic, GNVQ course leader, said: "The family wanted us to try and come up with a solution to enable Dani to get on to the beach without a struggle. The students are now coming up with a design, materials and components and they are very keen to help Dani."

Mr Klemencic explained that a design team meeting had already been held and another organised for the first week of June when it was hoped the designs could be finalised.

It is also hoped that the new machine will be ready to hand over as soon as possible after that.

Story date: Wednesday 01 March

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