A LIFELINE service for disabled people and people with mobility problems is celebrating a decade in Yate.

Shopmobility South Gloucestershire will mark its 10th anniversary on April 24.

The scheme, which provides mobility scooter and wheelchair hire, allows people independence to shop by themselves and also leases out its fleet of 16 scooters on a long-term basis.

Chairman Cllr Janet Biggin, who recently took over from long-serving chairman and former Yate mayor Martin Monk, said: “As chairman of Shopmobility South Gloucestershire I am delighted that we are now in our tenth year, really making a difference to those people who use the service to visit the shopping centre - allowing independence to our service users, who would be isolated without it."

The scheme had an initial meeting in July 2003, called by the late Keith Holloway. It started operations three years later in Yate Shopping Centre under its first chairman the late Sue Gawler.

Cllr Shirley Holloway (Lib Dem, Thornbury) said: “My husband Keith would have been delighted to see his dream of Shopmobility become a success. I'm only sorry that he never saw his ideas come to fruition.”

Vice-chairman David Bell, a founding trustee since 2004 who attended the first meeting in 2003, said: "I am so pleased that we are celebrating 10 years of the Shopmobility scheme in Yate. It has made such a positive difference to people's lives."

The service, which has 1,160 registered members, is the only one of its kind in South Gloucestershire other than at The Mall at Cribbs Causeway.

It was launched in 2006 with National Lottery funding but has since faces funding cuts and regularly appeals for donations.

Project worker Sheridan Crew said: “Shopmobility is being used by more people from throughout South Gloucestershire and we are seeing a growing need to support people with mobility problems with all aspects of their disability.

“We recognise the support needs of carers and how socially isolating lack of mobility and being a carer can be.

“'We directly support or signpost people to other agencies as and when required in seeking to improve quality of life or overcome difficulties being faced.”

The Shopmobility office in Yate Library is open on Tuesday and Friday (9.30am-4pm) and Thursday and Saturday (9.30am-2pm) or call 01454 868718 or 07999 574474 or email shopmobilitysouthglos@yahoo.com for more information.