YOUNG disabled children in Burnley are set to employ pedal power to make 2010 a summer to remember.

Pupils at Ridgewood Special School are sharing in a near £2million programme to provide a host of new equipment and support short breaks for under 18s who are physically challenged.

The £24,190 handed to the Eastern Avenue school will pay for a range of specialist and adapted bikes.

Other Burnley beneficaries include the Pennine Lancashire Community Farm, in March Street, which will receive £20,000 to improve changing and toilet facilities. Another successful bid was lodged by the Action for Autistic Spectrum Disorder centre in Queen Street, Harle Syke. Officials at the autism resource centre will spend a £19,680 handout on a new wheelchair lift.

County councillor Susie Charles, children and schools cabinet member, said: “Children with disabilities deserve the very best we can give them, and that includes short breaks that the children can really enjoy while their parents and carers have some much-needed time for themselves.”

Elsewhere plans for a multi-sensory room at The Beacon children’s centre in Nelson, will be aided by a £6,500 grant.

Children across East Lancashire will benefit from a new multi-activity hall at Preston’s Hothersall Lodge outdoor education centre.

And the Whitehough centre, Barley, will gain from a £100,000 award.