A LACK of summer holiday schemes for children with special needs has angered Malvern parents.

They say provision for their children has been whittled down in the past two years from a fortnight to just a few days of care during the long summer break.

Evelyn Cunningham of Malvern Special Families, a support group for parents of children with special needs, said a two-week scheme at The Chase High School catered for a limited number of children.

"But we have at least 90 families in the Malvern area. A lot of our children will not have anything to do," she said.

"Up to two years ago, a child would get a full fortnight of activities but now they only get two or three sessions each."

It is especially difficult for working parents like Jeanne Evans, of Lower Chase Road, who was widowed 10 years ago.

She works full-time and finds it very hard to juggle her job with the school holidays now that her autistic son is 14.

"Nurseries care for younger children but there's nothing available for teenagers," she said. "Summer clubs around Malvern and Worcester do not want to know if the child is a teenager with special needs. Yet these children are just as important, they need to be stimulated and have fun."

Gaynor Biszewski, whose 15-year-old daughter Sarah is "quite severely disabled", also complained of the serious lack of provision for older children.

Summer play schemes run by the district council cater for children up to the age of 12.

Sports and recreation officer Avril Irish said children with special needs could be accommodated but parents would need to discuss their needs in advance, to make sure appropriate staffing was in place.

Dave Hull, of Worcestershire Social Services, said the play scheme at The Chase would cater for 30 children from the Malvern area considered most in need, aged up to 16 or 17.

"Parents see the provision of holiday activities as a significant need but it's not our role to replace education during the summer," he said.