A CHARITY store helping disabled people is celebrating the installation of parking spaces for its members, more than two years after they were first requested.

Committee members of ShopMobility had campaigned for disabled parking bays outside the store in Whalley Road, Accrington, since just after it opened in March 2000. An area with space for two to three vehicles has now been marked off.

Previously there was one hour parking for 14 cars that could be used by all drivers. It meant disabled people using the store were not guaranteed a convenient place to park.

ShopMobility provides the free use of motorised scooters and wheelchairs to disabled people who want to shop in Accrington town centre. But the lack of appropriate parking bays was causing a decline in members.

Richard Day, chairman for the shop, said: "This is fantastic for our members and about time after 25 months of asking. It's definitely a case of better late than never."

Initially four spaces were requested and Hyndburn Council's transport and highways committee agreed to two. But because all requests of this nature come under the annual Traffic regulation order, the process was a slow one.

"The delay in carrying out the improvements was lengthened because of work being carried out on Whalley Road to relay a gas pipe.

Matthew Hargreaves, an engineer for Hyndburn Borough Council's Traffic and Transportation department said: "Unfortunately it has taken a long time to complete this but there is a statutory procedure to go through .

"We do what we can and consider everything that comes through and try to satisfy everyone."