CIVIC officials have officially opened a new sensory room at a children’s play centre in Poole.

The Pirates and Princesses play centre, formally Ollie’s Playland, first opened to customers last year.

Poole mayor Cllr Phil Eades marked the official opening of the sensory room at a ceremony, before joining youngsters to see how they enjoyed the specially-designed facilities.

Cllr Eades said: “It is great to see private businesses working so successfully with Borough of Poole and the results achieved at Sensory Stars are fantastic. It gave me great pleasure to formally open the sensory room and the children attending the launch were fantastic. Facilities like these are vital for our young people with additional needs.”

A sensory room is a special room designed to develop people’s sense, usually through special lighting, music and objects, explained a council spokesman.

The spokesman added: “It can be used as therapy for children with limited communication skills.

Multi-sensory equipment is a vital and effective part of the treatment of sensory disorders with children and adults alike.

“Sensory equipment can help develop key life skills including vocalisation, gross motor skills, colour recognition and tracking.”

A new Changing Places toilet, suitable for disabled people and children/teenagers with profound and multiple learning difficulties, was also officially opened at the play centre.

The sensory room was funded from the Short Breaks for Disabled Children 2011/12 Capital Grant, while the toilet came partly from the 2011/12 grant and partly from the 2012/13 grant.