MAKING fishing accessible to everyone is the aim of a project being launched by a Malvern man.

Adrian Frost, of Lake House, on Peachfield Road, plans to develop the lake in his grounds to make it fully accessible to people with disabilities.

Mr Frost was inspired to launch the project after seeing how much his friend Steve Harris, who uses a wheelchair, enjoyed fishing at the lake.

While other lakes have disabled access, Mr Frost said people are often relegated to a spot near a car park and are unable to take advantage of all the facilities.

"There are a lot of places that do cater for disabled angling but there would only be one or two areas and they wouldn't generally be the nicest part of the fishery," he said,

"I'm sure that people who can't get about as well would love to be able to fish where the able-bodied can. If you're fishing, you're fishing and the only difference is where you can go to do it."

Mr Frost, a retired entrepreneur, plans to build a tarmac path around the lake and a track across Malvern Common leading to a car park near the lake.

The Malvern Hills Conservators will visit the site on October 15, before deciding whether to allow the track to be built across the common.

The non-profit-making venture would be open to everyone, but would specifically cater for those with physical and mental disabilities as well as elderly people.

Mr Frost also hopes to host fishing competitions.

He said fishing was very popular among people with disabilities, adding: "I think it's just one of those sports that everybody loves."

The plan has already received support from the Environment Agency and the British Disabled Angling Association.