DISABLED people, with a desire to water-ski, have taken the plunge and indulged in a memorable adrenalin rush.

The British Disabled Water Ski Association staged two free, taster days on Windermere last weekend (September 7, 8), introducing people of all ages and abilities to the sport.

Co-ordinator and blind world water ski jump champion Gerald Price said a number of people, from youngsters to pensioners, had taken part at the Low Wood Water Sports Centre and been "absolutely over the moon" about their achievements.

The participants were mostly from South Lakeland and Furness, although holidaymakers staying in the area had also taken up the opportunity.

"We had a couple of youngsters, in particular one eight-year-old who only had one arm," said Mr Price, explaining that the BDWSA had special equipment and specially trained instructors to lend appropriate support to water skiers with disabilities.

He said one of the participants had been a teenage boy from Kendal who had previously only been out on a ringo - rubber ring.

This time though he went further and managed to negotiate a sit-ski.

"He came down on Saturday and Sunday.

I spoke to his mother this week and she said he went off to school on Monday full of excitement about what he'd done."

Mr Price, a supporter of the anti-10mph Windermere Action Force lobby group, added: "The event was successful although we could have done with better weather.

On Saturday it was not good and put a lot of people off coming, I think.

The sun shone one minute and then it was absolutely torrential rain."

BDWSA put on 'taster days' all over the country for people with wide-ranging mental and physical disabilities, and Mr Price said it could be repeated in Windermere next year.