A NEW access path aimed to help wheelchair users, elderly people and children in pushchairs visit the Malvern Hills has been opened.

The £20,000 path offers a wonderful view across the Severn Valley on the eastern slope of the beauty spot and runs at gentle gradient up to the secluded Earnslaw Quarry.

Sir William Lawrence, chairman of Visit Heart of England and a wheelchair user himself, Alan Edwards, from the Disabled Ramblers Association and Richard Graves, the chairman of the board of the Malvern Hills Conservators were at yesterday's opening.

"This path is great because accessibility is a real issue in the countryside," said Mr Edwards.

"Up here it's absolutely unbelievable, especially on a day like this."

"Being a wheelchair user I have never opened anything on a hill before," said Sir William.

Mr Graves added that the path is quite different because it takes people to the very heart of the hills.

"It's an example of a close partnership working together to achieve a really splendid result, a year or two before we had expected," he said.

There are parking spaces for the disabled available near the entrance, which is just off the Wyche Road, near to the Wyche Cutting.