Surrey County Council is planning to modernise its short break services for families of children with disabilities.

The authority is proposing to fully open a new purpose-built centre, Applewood, in Tadworth.

The facility includes six beds and is set to provide overnight breaks from this summer. It is currently offering activities during the day for children with disabilities after opening last year.

Under the proposal, all Applewood’s facilities will be available throughout the year for children who have a range of complex learning and physical disabilities.

The centre includes a wet room, equipment to help children get in and out of bed or the bath, a sensory room and specialist play equipment. All the bedrooms are on the ground floor to make access easier.

The new services at Applewood will complement other council-managed short breaks services, including Ruth House in Woking and short break services paid for by the authority but provided by voluntary and community agencies.

At the same time the closure of Squirrel Lodge in Woking is proposed because the building is no longer suitable for modern short break care.

Cabinet Member for Children and Families, Cllr Mary Angell said: "This is another aspect of shaping-up service quality for children and young people with disabilities while at the same time supporting their carers and enabling family life to be sustained a little more easily. We can manage to do this within our budget and without cutting the amount of service we provide to children with disabilities and their carers."

The plans went before the county council's Children and Families Select Committee last week and the council's Cabinet will consider the proposals on 29 March.