A £70,000 cash injection into sport and play provision has been launched by Worcester City Council.

The Labour cabinet has agreed to sink the money into funding the jobs of new dedicated workers - with one role specifically aimed at disabled sport.

Around £30,000 of the money will see a new full-time disability sports development officer get to work, who will provide access to specialist coaching.

The role will build on Worcester's growing international role for disabled sport, which included the University Arena hosting the European Wheelchair Basketball Championships last year.

The leadership says it wants Worcester to be Britain's "number one destination" for disabled athletes.

The remaining £40,000 will fund the job of a play development co-ordinator.

The new employee will be asked to bid for external funding to expand the city's current play programme, which has a heavy emphasis on holiday activities and weekend events.

Both investments have been signed off, with some of the money coming from central Government under New Homes Bonus cash - money for agreeing property development in the city.

The disabled sport worker will be employed by the charity Disability Sport Worcester, with the cash in place for three years.

A further contribution is also expected to be made by the University of Worcester.

Councillor Jabba Riaz, cabinet member for clean, green and leisure services, said: "My vision is for Worcester to be the number one destination for disability sport."

On the play spending Councillor Lynn Denham, the cabinet member for sustainable communities, said: "This investment is in line with Sport England's charter for play.

"The New Homes Bonus is designed to help support services for the additional local residents who move in - young children should be included in this."

The spending has also won the backing of the opposition Conservative group, which said it could make a big difference.

Tory Councillor Mike Johnson, a former cabinet member, said: "The view I took with the Conservative group was that quite a small amount of money could be leveraged to deliver great benefit - this is an example of that."