A charity giving disabled people the freedom to visit a town centre is facing cuts to services.

Harrow Shopmobility, based at the St George’s shopping centre recently had to close for a day because of a lack of volunteers to run the service.

The scheme, which is also a charity, lends battery powered scooters, wheelchairs and manual wheelchairs to people with limited mobility, with an average of 12 people a day using the service.

Director of Harrow Association for Disabled People (HAD), Nigel Long has raised concerns about the possible reduction in the opening hours.

He said: “The service shopmobility provides is really crucial and any reduction in this service would be bad news for disabled people in the borough.

“The service is vital to the empowerment of people who may struggle to get out into the shops of the town centre and access other services.

Manager of the service Pushpa Hargovan said: “We are in real need of more people to volunteer.

“We have been losing some of our regulars over the past few months and we are in the situation where we have to close for some days a week because we don’t have enough people to help.

“What we really want to do is keep a consistent service for disabled people who use our scooters and rely on us to get out during the week.

“We would be very worried if we had to cut the service down more."

Maria Bourceanu, 68, who regularly uses a scooter from Harrow Shopmobility, said: “This service is very important to me because it means I can get out and about in the town centre.

“For myself and other disabled people it is a vital because it gives you the freedom to go out. They need more help and more volunteers so they can keep going."

The charity was founded in 1994 to help promote the welfare and independence of people with disabilities.

Those who think they help run the service and volunteer for the charity by sparing three hours a week can contact Harrow Shopmobility on 0208 427 1200 or by clicking here.