A new holiday house specially designed for families with disabled children was officially opened in Penally on Monday.

The third Harriet Davis Trust property to be opened in the Tenby area over the last nine years, 'The Wheelabout' on the Ridgeway, has been purpose-built to provide easy access and all the aids required for the care of disabled children while on holiday.

The Harriet Davis Seaside Holiday Trust was originally set up by John and Kit Davis in 1992 in memory of their daughter Harriet, who suffered from a rare degenerative metabolic disease.

Harriet, who tragically passed away aged 11, used to love seaside holidays in the company of family and friends, but Mr. and Mrs. Davis, as her principal carers, found it difficult to find suitable holiday accommodation which would allow a severely disabled child to take part in a real family holiday, as many such children needed specialised equipment and surroundings.

As a tribute to Harriet's shining and indomitable spirit, the couple founded the Trust to provide properties in seaside locations which had been suitably constructed or adapted to enable disabled children, their families and carers to enjoy the benefits of seaside holidays.

As Harriet had enjoyed many holidays in Tenby, the Trust set about specially adapting Upper Albion, overlooking Tenby Harbour in Castle Square, and 'Harriet's House' officially opened in 1993.

Originally the Trust had been established just to purchase and adapt Upper Albion, but such was the demand from families that a second house, Giltar View in Southcliffe Street, was also purchased and adapted.

Further demand for such holiday accommodation saw the Trust embark on their third holiday house three years ago when they purchased the old Wheelabout cottage on The Ridgeway, Penally.

With major grant aid from the National Lottery's Community Fund and further funding via grants from charitable trusts, donations from many organisations and fund-raising activities, the Wheelabout has been designed by architectural technologist Andrew Muskett, of ADM Design, especially for families with disabled children.

Standing it its own grounds, the Wheelabout not only boasts superb views over the Gower and Caldey Island, but the garden has been tastefully landscaped for wheelchair users, while also affording plenty of space for children to play.

The 10-bedded property also includes a kitchen, family bathroom, wheel-in shower room, wheelchair lift and a small indoor heated swimming pool with hoist.

Equipment includes hydraulic baths, adjustable sinks, adjustable bed floor sitters, shower chairs and a mobile hoist - in fact virtually everything a family with a disabled child requires.

As with the Trust's other two properties, a family helper, Pat Sykes, is available for general help if required.

"The whole ethos of the Trust is to support the family as a unit," explained Mrs. Davis. "For many of them this may be the first holiday they have had where they all get the chance to be together and retain their independence."

Mr. Davis agreed.

"We believe that the type of accommodation provided in Trust properties is unique in the United Kingdom," he said. "There are other places with facilities for the disabled, but Harriet Davis Trust properties are specifically designed for families to be independent, on their own."

Harriet Davis Trust properties are normally only available to families with disabled children under the age of 21, but when they are not so required, the Trust can permit their use by adult disabled, their families and carers.

The Wheelabout was officially opened by the Trust's president, Dr. Sandy Cavenagh, who was Harriet's GP, on Monday, with a blessing by Rev. Kelvin Richards, the Rector of Llangynidr.

The Wheelabout is open throughout the year and is already fully booked from May 11 to the end of November and at Christmas.

Speaking to the Observer, Mr. Davis expressed his sincere thanks for all the support the Trust has received since being set up.

"There has been tremendous support from local organisations and the people of Tenby, both for the Trust and also to families who use the accommodation, and we thank everyone for that," he said.