CHIPPENHAM NEWS: A SHOPPING centre in Chippenham has breathed new life into a mobility scooter scheme for disabled people.

Bosses at Borough Parade agreed to takeover the Shopmobility Scheme which was closed last September and it will be operated by Thorntons confectioners.

Despite being serviced last month, the fleet of scooters and wheelchairs is still locked away at Emery Gate because the shopping centre said it can no longer staff the service.

But at a meeting on Monday, Borough Parade held talks with North Wiltshire District Council, which owns the service, and Community First, to find ways of breathing new life into the scheme.

Disabled shoppers have said the closing of the service had taken away their freedom to do their own shopping.

Sylvia Barnes, 76, of Lingfield Close, Chippenham, said: "Having the liberty to shop on your own can make all the difference to people with disabilities."

Age Concern Chippenham spearheaded a campaign to ressurect the service, holding crisis talks in January.

Mayor Desna Allen said: "I'm delighted it has moved on and I'm so thankful to Prudential which owns Borough Parade."

District councillors are also hoping to save a bus service run for the disabled.

Chippenham Lions Club is planning to stop the service because of a lack of volunteers and spiralling costs.

The buses, which take disabled people to clubs and events, will be taken off the road at the end of this month, but the district council hopes a new operator can be found.