A county charity has opened the doors to a brand-new caravan, to be used for holidays and accessible breaks for those who need it.

Leuchie House, based near North Berwick, is a national charity supporting people living with neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and motor neurone disease, via respite breaks and other services.

The caravan, situated at Thurston Manor Leisure Park, south of Dunbar, is a new venture for Leuchie, offering accessible holidays “beyond the walls” of its dedicated respite house.

The holiday let means more people can enjoy quality time with families and carers in a suitable, well-thought-out accommodation, purpose built with accessibility in mind.

Councillor John McMillan, East Lothian Provost, officially opened the self-catering caravan.

Nicola Collin, Leuchie’s head of facilities, ensured the caravan surpassed usual wheelchair accessible standards to provide a homely and accessible experience.

She said: “We’re delighted to offer this self-catering holiday accommodation equipped to help meet the needs of those with disabilities or mobility issues for whom ‘wheelchair access’ just isn’t enough.

“We have equipped the caravan with items we think can help make people’s holiday easier, above what you would normally expect in caravan accommodation, including a profiling bed.

“Our accessible holiday cottage in Dirleton, Doddie Weir House, was Leuchie’s first self-catering venture and has proved to be very popular so we wanted to further expand our services and feel the caravan will be just as popular for families wanting a break.”

Nicola was joined at the ribbon-cutting event by Mr McMillan, who was delighted to continue championing Leuchie’s work in respite care.

He said: “The respite services provided by Leuchie have, over many years, given much joy to those who have come to stay.

“I know Leuchie is greatly valued by guests and their families, and this is a credit to the specialist team who are so dedicated to providing a unique and high-quality experience.

“The new self-catering caravan in Dunbar is a superb addition to accommodation options.

“It is clear that a lot of thought has gone into meeting the needs of guests and making the holiday experience easier and even more enjoyable.

“I look forward to hearing more about the success of this in the months and years ahead.”

The caravan is already taking bookings for the remainder of 2023 and into 2024.