CHILDREN with special needs may be just some of the youngsters to benefit from a new fountain play area if the proposal is agreed.

If the water features are given the go-ahead by Wychavon District Council's executive board, they will be sited on Pershore's Abbey Park, next to the existing play area.

The play area, which will consist of around five water features, will be funded from the Liveability Fund, a Government fund from the office of the deputy prime minister.

The district council has £100,000 from the fund to spend on the fountain play scheme, and it is hoped that the money will also be used to replace existing wooden fencing round the current play ground in the park.

Lynn Stevens, parks officer for the district council, gave a presentation at last Thursday's Pershore Town Council meeting on the water fountain proposals.

After the meeting she said: "It will include special needs children because it's a safe surface, and you can wheel chairs on to the rubber matting. Falling water is one of the ways that sensory objects can be used to stimulate children who are disabled in some way. "

The fountains, which will be timed by a computerised system in a security box on site, will spring up through the rubber surface from piping underneath.

It is hoped the play area will have a road track pattern so that youngsters can bring their remote controlled toy cars down to the area in winter when the fountains are not in use.

Members of Pershore Town Council approved the scheme, and the proposal is due before the executive board next month.

If it is given the go-ahead it will join a new skate park in Abbey Park, which already has £40,000 funding from the district council, but needs another £30,000.