DISABLED children at a Pontypool support group will soon have a new therapy and relaxation suite thanks to the hard work of dozens of volunteers.

Work to build the £25,000 hydrotherapy pool with therapy and sensory room at the Torfaen Opportunity Group (TOG) premises in the Highway, New Inn, is being carried out completely free of charge by a team of builders co-ordinated by Jeff Parfitt, of Pontypool Round Table.

Many man-hours and materials have been volunteered by Mr Parfitt and his team to get the new extension complete by next month.

Cynthia Beynon, director of TOGs, said: "It's absolutely wonderful. They deserve all the praise in the world for carrying out this work free of charge. It is going to benefit so many children with disabilities and improve their quality of life."

Children with physical, learning or sensory disabilities will be able to benefit from the new facilities, with specialist occupational and behavioural therapists on hand to help out.

Pontypool Round Table's Mr Parfitt, a builder by trade, has co-ordinated six local companies and almost a dozen workers to build the new extension.

He said: "We have helped TOG out in the past when they needed it.

"I was really concerned that they didn't have this much-needed pool, so I decided to help again.

"My attitude has always been if I can help I will give my services as much as I can.

"There's no point in doing things by half."

Opened in 2001, the TOG centre caters for children with disabilities from four months to 19 years old. More than 100 children are expected to use the new facility, in addition to the 250 families who already make use of the centre.

* Companies involved in the construction are Pontypool Demolition, Min-Ex, Takeuchi, AP Walters Roofing, CR Roofing and Greenway Windows.