THE success of Redditch's Shopmobility scheme was highlighted during a visit by Euro MP Liz Lynne last Wednesday.

The Liberal Democrat MEP met Shopmobility users, Redditch councillor Diane Thomas and north area director Barbara Webster and discussed the development of the scheme, which is based at Car Park 3.

Mrs Thomas said the MEP's visit was "a wonderful opportunity" to highlight the service provided.

She added: "It's an excellent scheme used not only by people in Redditch but from further afield.

"It helps ease disabled people's access in the town centre and Kingfisher Centre.

"Liz Lynne was looking to find out the benefits a scheme like Shopmobility can bring to disabled people and the difficulties they face as she's very concerned with battling against any form of discrimination."

The visit was part of Ms Lynne's "battlebus" tour of the county, a fact-finding exercise to sample views on policies affecting disabled people across her constituency and their access to work, education and leisure opportunities.

Ms Lynne will present a report on the European Year of Disabled People 2003 for approval by the European Parliament this month.