An organisation which supports people with severe learning disabilities is preparing to open a £30,000 sensory room complete with a jellyfish garden, dark den and 3D cinema.

Garry Hudson, managing director of the Aqua Clinic, said the new venture came about by popular demand.

The Shipley social enterprise runs sessions for adults and children with autism and severe learning and emotional difficulties in its warm basement therapy pool.

“People would come and use the pool and then say, ‘so what else have you got?’ There was a huge gap in Bradford for people with learning difficulties getting access to a sensory room,” Mr Hudson said. “It’s the whole journey of coming here. They know they’re going to relax and have fun in the room.

“It’s not just the service user, it’s the carers and parents too.”

Mr Hudson said there were other sensory rooms in the Bradford area, but many were based in areas unsuitable for his clients, who instead travelled to Burnley for the experience.

“My clients can have quite severe difficulties and can be aggressive, so we’ve created somewhere they can come, they can sit in here and not be a risk to anyone,” he said.

The sensory room has features to stimulate the senses and help people relax and learn.

A 3D cinema area means those with severe problems who could no go to a public cinema can watch films and feel safe, there are toy cars which run along ramps to help identify colours and numbers and a dark den gives an area to play with illuminated toys of different textures. Other highlights include a massage chair, a projector which beams coloured patterns, a bubble machine and aromatherapy panel.

Mr Hudson has spent about £30,000 on developing the sensory room which can be hired out to groups and those who already use the pool facilities.

“A lot of adults, that are maybe 6ft 3ins and 19 stone, have the mental age of a three-year-old and will use things like this,” Mr Hudson said, showing toys and interactive story books.

The sensory room will be open seven days a week, for ten hours a day to benefit as many people as possible.

Groups wanting to know more about the Aqua Clinic, which won a 2013 T&A Business Award and is based on Otley Road, can call (01274) 586633.