A group of service users from The Avenue Social Activity Centre at Tenby have developed easy reading menus for a local café.

The group, supported by Val Coates-Rees, have been working with the Speech and Language Therapy department of the Pembrokeshire Community Team for Learning Disabilities at the Hywel Dda Health Board as part of their 'total communication strategy'.

The 'total community strategy' promotes and values all forms of communication, such as - signing, pictures or objects, to increase people's independence.

With this in mind, the menu uses symbols, photos and simple text to help people with literacy difficulties make their choices independently when visiting a café for example.

Kimberley Wooley, James Merriman, Simon Cotton and Freda Williams, of the Avenue group, who meet at the centre in Greenhill Avenue, were on hand this week to present The Lounge Café in Tenby's Upper Frog Street with an 'easy read' menu to launch the new initiative.

"I think the menus are a good idea, as they will help people who can't read," said Kimberley.

"The pictures help them to choose what they want to eat or drink," she added.

Jane Lloyd, of The Lounge, was delighted to meet the Avenue group at the launch of the new initiative, while Mandy Thomas, of the cafe, and Ben Fecci, who were involved with the menu's design process, are also delighted that the menu is now available.

The Avenue Centre group who would be happy to help provide other local cafés and restaurants with 'easy read' menus, can be contacted on 01834 842 224.