NEW disabled facilities have been unveiled in support of a young man’s national campaign to improve access in public places.

Burnley Council and the leisure trust have shown their support to Zack Kerr’s petition by installing a fully accessible Changing Place toilet and changing facility at St Peter’s Leisure Centre last month.

The 22-year-old described the new facility on Church Street as 'excellent' and said: "It will really make a difference to so many disabled people and their families, friends and carers."

The move comes after the Accrington man discovered there are no Changing Place facilities in Burnley, and very few across East Lancashire.

Zack said:“I am really pleased that Burnley Council and Burnley Leisure have responded so quickly to install this excellent facility, which will help me and so many other people access the leisure facilities here and in the town centre.

“I am very proud of what my campaign has achieved so far. I have visited Gloucester motorway service station to officially open their brand new Changing Places facility, and I have been asked to open the new one for Road Chef at Annandale Water, so it’s great to see my national campaign achieving so many positive results already.”

Hyndburn MP Graham Jones, who has supported Zack since the start of the campaign, approached Burnley Council on behalf of his constituent Zack.

Mr Jones said: “The success of Zack’s campaign for accessible facilities is absolutely fantastic and I am proud to have supported him in his efforts.

“It is vital that we remove societal barriers that exclude disabled people. At present, there are over 250,000 people unable to use standard accessible toilets."

Burnley MP Julie Cooper, who is also the shadow health minister for communities, said: “Zack has been an outstanding champion for this cause and has achieved so much through sheer determination."

Burnley councillor Lian Pate, executive member for community services, added: “We wish Zack all the best as he pursues his very worthwhile campaign.”

The campaign started out as an online petition in August last year, which gathered more than 140,000 supporters within a matter of months.

Since then Zack, who has delivered his petition to Downing Street in person, has appeared on regional TV and in national media after launching his campaign to see Changing Place standard toilets at every UK motorway service station.