The founder of a charity giving disabled people the freedom to visit a town centre has thanked the Harrow Times for its coverage.

Last week Harrow Shopmobility said it feared it would have to reduce its services due to a lack of volunteers, which had recently led to the service closing for a day.

Vera Murray-Folwer, who set up the service 20 years ago says she hopes the coverage will help attract more volunteers.

The 87-year-old said: “We are so thankful for the coverage, it’s been absolutely fantastic. It’s been a great way to let people know the sort of work we do.

“I first heard about shopmobility when I visited my aunty in Cardiff. She was housebound because of her mobility issues but when I went to visit she signed up to her local scheme.

“She was given so much freedom. I thought it was fantastic and I decided to bring it back to Harrow.

“It has been 20 years since the service started in Harrow and Shopmobility continues to be as important as ever.

She added: “It gives people their independence and the freedom to visit shops and the town centre when they would have otherwise have been stuck at home.

What is important for us to have able-bodied volunteers who can help people from their taxis into their scooters.

Since publicising the need for more volunteers the Harrow Times has spoken to Harrow Association for Disabled People (HAD) who say it will help find volunteers needed.

Director of HAD, Nigel Long said: “We are very keen to do what we can to help Harrow shopmobility and we can use our network of volunteers to help maintain the service.

“The shopmobility is a really vital service for disabled people in the borough and has really big impact on people’s lives.

“Volunteers are critical part of many organisations like ours and many others and we hope we will be able to help find some more willing to help.”