A BUILDING society's charity trust has bought a new electric scooter to help struggling shoppers.

The Abbey National Charitable Trust Ltd handed over a donation of £1,500 to help the work of The Friends of Shopmobility.

The society answered an appeal from the charity which helps people with mobility problems and this week the scooter was handed over at Leigh's Spinning Gate Centre by Morag Hoyland.

She said: "The well-being of the whole community is important if our business is to be successful. Shopmobility makes an important contribution to this and I hope our support will encourage other local companies to help too."

On behalf of Shopmobility, Garry Kay, chairman of the Friends, said: "This type of support is crucial to our scheme and we would welcome help from other firms.

"People of all ages, including children, benefit from the use of our scooters, manual and electric wheelchairs and many people would be totally housebound if Shopmobility ceased to exist.