SERVICES in Wiltshire for people with physical disabilities and sensory impairments are among the best in England, according to a new survey.

Wiltshire County Council took a sample of 300 service users as part of a national initiative, and the survey results nationally were compiled by the Department of Health.

In three out of ten questions asked, Wiltshire was top of all shire counties in England.

Ninety seven percent of service users in Wiltshire said their lives would be much worse without help from social services or direct payments. This compared with 92 percent nationally.

Eighty nine percent in Wiltshire said they could always contact social services easily if they wanted to, compared with 79.5 per cent nationally.

Eighty one percent in Wiltshire said social services provided them with all the information they needed, compared with 66 per cent nationally.

On three other questions, Wiltshire was second out of all the shire counties, and on two more questions it was third.

Judy Seager, cabinet member for adult care services, said: "I am very satisfied that such a high percentage of service users say they can always contact Social Services easily the county council has been doing a lot of work on improving customer care and communications."