A RANGE of services for people with disabilities will be on offer at this year’s Stockton International Riverside Festival.

The festival, which begins on Thursday, will be accessible to all, with help available to access performance sites and accessible viewing areas.

One of this year’s shows – Thrill Laboratory’s ‘VR Playground’ – features a disabled access swing specially designed for wheelchair users.

It invites visitors aged 11 and over to don a virtual reality headset, and take to the swing to be transported through an exhilarating adventure.

Councillor Norma Wilburn, Stockton Borough Council’s cabinet member for arts, leisure and culture, said: “SIRF is one of our most popular events and it’s very important to us that the programme itself is diverse and accessible to all.

“We’ve got the ‘buddy’ system again to provide visitors with disabilities with a guide to escort them around key performance sites and provide verbal or physical assistance when needed - all you need to do is book in advance.

“Easy access lanyards enabling visitors to gain entry to accessible viewing areas will also be available from SIRF staff on request,” she added.

SIRF 17 takes place from Thursday, August 3 to Sunday, August 6 and will offer up to 30 individual shows a day from 1.15pm until 11pm.

For further details visit www.sirf.co.uk/accessible-sirf or call 01642 528130