Wheelchair event 'a real eye-opener'

A small army of people in wheelchairs turned heads in the centre of Douglas today (Monday).

A walk-through from Regent Street to the Villa Marina was staged to mark the start of the Isle of Man's first Disability Awareness Week.

It aims to highlight the daily challenges facing those with physical disabilites.

Able-bodied helpers and members of the House of Keys joined the walk, setting-off along Strand Street in wheelchairs for a first-hand experience.

The week has been organised by the Manx Foundation for the Physically Disabled.

Its chairman David Cooke says the first event was a real eye-opener: