It was by far the best birthday present Neil could ask for - taking his daughter Lucy onto the beach.

Local photographer Neil Barnes, who is a carer for his daughter, has been campaigning for wheelchair access onto the beach for around eight years and this dream was finally realised on his birthday on Sunday.

It was an emotional morning for all when he pushed his daughter onto the beach for the first time and she could dip her feet in seawater - to which she had a big smile - thanks to newly installed matting on West Bay's West Beach.

He said: "It's wonderful for her and me, it's a dream come true, we've been wanting it for so long - the best birthday present.

"It's about accessibility for everyone, people tend to forget that there are people who can't use all the facilities, especially the beach. Who doesn't love being on the beach and why should they be precluded from doing that?"

Neil had previously tried to get a similar matting on Burton Bradstock beach but this unfortunately did not come to fruition, however, he did manage to secure a number of wheelchair-friendly picnic benches on the promenade and by the play area.

He added: "In the end it wasn't me who pushed to make it happen, it was taken up by Elaine Leader. She contacted various councillors and the MP to get things going. 

"Thank you, Elaine, for taking up the case again."

Elaine explains that she has a passion for elderly people and is always looking around for places where access is not great for those with restricted mobility.

She said: "I noticed there was a ramp at West Bay and knew they had the kit [matting and beach wheelchairs] at Lyme Regis, so I thought, 'why haven't we got it at West Bay?'.

"I started to look into it and tried to get the attention of somebody at the council."

She made contact with Cllr Kelvin Clayton, West Dorset MP Chris Loder and harbourmaster James Radcliffe, researched, presented the project to councillors and used the matting and wheelchairs from Lyme Regis to try it out in West Bay.

Elaine added: "I kept badgering and eventually Kelvin came back and said there was a pot of money that had been found.

"I am really pleased; I am so excited for everyone. It makes me so enthusiastic and passionate, as when you talk to people like Neil and he said that it would mean so much to him to get Lucy down to the water and beach - when you see the emotion from people like that, it's given me a real drive to just keep going and not give up.

"The next phase is going to be getting a couple of beach wheelchairs, one for those you can transfer and one for those, like Lucy, you can't transfer."

Now 100m2 of accessible matting has been installed by Mr Radcliffe and his team on West Beach thanks to Elaine's passionate plea to councillors.

Bridport mayor, Cllr Ian Bark, said: "We're delighted with the early feedback from both residents and visitors about the matting, which seems to indicate a genuine sense of freedom from people who haven't been able to enjoy the beach until now. 

"I am so grateful to Elaine Leader for her determination, and to others like Neil Barnes who have campaigned for this provision. I'd also like to thank the harbourmaster and his team for their work laying the matting."

Cllr Kelvin Clayton, chairman of the town council's environment and social wellbeing committee, said: "I'd like to thank my fellow committee members for being so receptive to Elaine's request, which she had backed up with research. We're very pleased that the matting is now installed and we're now keen to look at extending access further with all-terrain wheelchairs."

The matting, purchased by Bridport Town Council at a cost of £3,500, is modular and further development is possible.

Town clerk Will Austin said: "We managed to obtain some external funding from Dorset Coast Forum that has really helped, and once we can identify further finance, we can look at additional matting and beach wheelchairs for hire. These could enable users to move off the path and to enjoy the sea."

A crowfunder has now bene launched for the two wheelchairs. You can find it and donate here.