DISABLED Preston North End supporters can now attend away matches, thanks to a new club for wheelchair-bound fans.

Until the independent PNE Disabled Supporters' Association was established, the newly-promoted club was unable to provide transport for disabled fans to away matches.

Now PNE fans who need their wheelchairs can travel to away games in a specially adapted bus.

It will be available for trips to Division One opposition next season.

Disabled Barbara McCombs formed the club after being frustrated by the lack of co-operation from Deepdale staff.

She's getting a helping hand from charity worker Maurice Phipps. She said: "There wasn't a disabled supporters' association or anyone really to speak on their behalf at meetings so we have formed our group."

Barbara organised a coach trip for disabled fans to Goodison for the cup tie against Everton last season -- and decided to take it a step further.

"It's important to get to away matches and support your team," she added. "but I find it difficult to go away because there is so much to think about, such as exactly how far from the ground do the official coaches stop?"

Margaret believes PNE bosses can't transport wheelchair-bound fans to away matches because it doesn't prove cost effective.

But the club is welcoming the new group. A PNE spokesman said: "We are interested in helping out our disabled supporters and we have already been in touch with the group and have agreed to advertise it on our web pages and we will support it in the future."

The next meeting of the association is at Deepdale Labour Club at 8pm on June 14.