CASH and volunteers are urgently needed to save Bury Shopmobility.

Disabled shoppers will suffer if grant cutbacks force the charity to close.

The Silver Street organisation was in such financial trouble it was on the brink of going under.

Manager Mr Mike Corner said the situation was so bad he even had to draw up redundancy notices for the service's paid staff.

Although they have just staved off disaster after receiving grants, they forecast misery for next year when town centre developers MEPC, one of the charity's main backers, cuts its support.

Shopmobility helps disabled people get around the town centre to do their shopping.

Set up in December 1993, it provides electric scooters and wheelchairs along with volunteer escorts.

"We've had a tortuous time persuading MEPC to stay with us," said Mr Corner.

"It's taken us a long time, but we've now got enough money to last this year. But we won't have at the end of the year.

"We came very near to closing, fully or for part of the week. We must solve these problems and find alternative sources of money for next year or else the outlook is bleak."

Shopmobility receives a grant of £29,000 from MEPC, along with a slightly higher award from Bury social services.

"MEPC have funded us for four years and I think we've done well from them. But I doubt they will do it again." Mr Corner also apologised to clients who have had their visits cancelled through a lack of volunteers, and appealed for people to come forward.

"The whole of the voluntary sector in Bury is struggling to get volunteers," he said.

Mr Steve Cook, MEPC property manager, admitted that funding for Shopmobility would be cut next year.

He said: "It was always the intention that they would become self-supporting, encouraging fund-raising and getting sponsorship from elsewhere."

Mr Cook said that, instead of cash, MEPC would try to give Shopmobility a storage and pick-up office in the new Union Arcade development.

He said: "We support Shopmobility in places across the country, buying wheelchairs and providing accommodation, but nowhere do we make this sort of massive contribution. The time has come. We have made our contribution for 1997, but it's likely to be less next year."

But Mr Corner pointed to the massive investments MEPC were making in town centre developments. "Our grant is a very small drop in the ocean for them," he said.

Anyone who can help should contact Mr Corner on (0161) 764 9966.

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