A PARK which lies at the heart of a community will be open to even more people thanks to an accessibility drive.

Since 2016 Ford Park in Ulverston have striven to be as inclusive as possible as it moves into its second stage of development.

After clearing debts of £750,000 Ford Park Community Group, which governs the park, have begun to look at its future role.

Ali Alger, who only recently stepped down as Ford Park's chief executive, had an ambition to ensure as many people as possible were able to enjoy the park.

To make that vision a reality, a planning application has been submitted to South Lakeland District Council, proposing a new, easily accessible park entrance and path close to St Mary's Hospice.

Mrs Alger said: "It will be at the top of Ford Park Crescent, the site where there was formerly an entrance.

"It's part of a wider access policy looking to do a number of things to improve access for the community.

"This is the first stage of that programme really. We've had long conversations with St Mary's Hospice and have done previous work with them on health and wellbeing programmes."

The construction of a path near the entrance to the hospice will mean that chronically ill patients living at the hospice, or day care patients and their families will be able to easily walk to the park.

Mrs Alger said a green open space that was readily available could reap dividends for the mental health of not just the patients, but the hospice's staff.

She said: "It is difficult for visitors, residents and members of staff to access the park easily. Providing access to the park will be good for their mental health, it is a place to come and relax, a change of pace for people."

The search for funding is now under way. As the park is a charity, it has to source all project funding independently. Mrs Alger expects this will happen by October, and provided the application is approved, the work should be completed by summer 2018.