AN urgent appeal has been launched to find disabled children in Merseyside who could benefit from having a specialist adapted tricycle.

National charity, Caudwell Children, has launched the appeal after receiving funding to help support youngsters in the area.

The tricycles - costing between £800 and £1,500 - are individually designed to meet the needs of each disabled child and help provide physiotherapy, build muscle tone, aid independence and promote play.

By launching the appeal, the charity hopes some of the estimated 20,000 families in the region caring for a disabled child will come forward and contact them.

In their 13-year history the charity has supported thousands of children from across the Merseyside region and now hope to expand their services within local communities.

Trudi Beswick, chief executive of Caudwell Children, said: "We donate hundreds of these therapy tricycles to disabled children throughout the UK each year, but we currently have no applicants in the Merseyside area.

"Disabled children get huge physical and emotional benefits from having the specially adapted tricycles, which are each custom made to suit the individual child's needs.

"As well as providing regular exercise and physical therapy, the tricycles give children a renewed sense of inclusion which improves self-esteem and confidence.

"We would love to hear from anyone caring for a disabled child who would like to find out more or knows their child will benefit from such a donation."

To find out more contact Helen Brandley at Caudwell Children on 01782 600854 or email Helen.Brandley@caudwellchildren.com.

To date Caudwell Children has provided services worth over £23 million to thousands of children with nearly 500 different medical conditions.