WALLINGFORD'S Accessible Boat Club is halfway to its fundraising target of £65,000 to help buy a 'wheelyboat'.

The boat will enable disabled people from the town and around the county to ride down the River Thames on the Wallingford stretch.

Having launched the appeal in July, John Jenkins MBE, Chairman of Trustees, said he was 'delighted' by the 'tremendous' support which has seen the total top £33,000.

Mr Jenkins explained: “We are all truly delighted at the tremendous public support we have received for the prospect of a disabled-friendly wheelyboat on our lovely stretch of the River Thames here at Wallingford.

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"It has been magnificent and, thankfully, reflected in the rapid accumulation of funds required to get the WABC facility off the ground. We have received donations from grant-making charitable trusts, both local and national, some special friends of WABC who have very generously supported us, and of course the general public via our website for all of which we are so very grateful.”

The Wallingford Accessible Boat Club is a voluntary, community organisation where able-bodied and disabled folk are encouraged to get involved. The project will be enabled by a wheelchair-accessible powerboat, the Coulam Wheelyboat V20, which has been proven on other waterways around the UK.

To donate, visit wabc.org.uk.