A SERVICE is temporarily closing in the city amid Coronavirus fears.

Shopmobility in Crowngate provides disabled people and the elderly with electronic or manual wheelchairs or electric scooters for free.

Chairman Jean Barton, 81, has made the difficult decision to close the shop to protect the health of her volunteers and service users.

Mrs Barton said: “I am closing the shop today, because I am over 81 and most of my voluunteers and members are of a similar age

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“It seems only fair and sensible to close now. It is sad, but we must prioritise our members health.

“We are keeping an eye on the latest advice, but I don’t think we will be opening again for at least a couple of weeks.

“I will be keeping the shop shut until it is safe to reopen.”

The Shopmoblity service is based in Crowngate Shopping Centre and provides free mobility equipment to enable people of all abilities to enjoy the city and its surroundings.

The charity has been in Worcester for 30 years.

Mrs Barton continued: “I am worried how this will affect the charity, we rely on donations and our volunteers to stay in business.

"If this gets any more serious I am going to have to start recruiting younger volunteers.

“I think the government will soon tell everyone over 70 to self-isolate. I will be okay, I am a very busy woman and will simply work from home. But it isn’t like that for everyone. I imagine older people will become very lonely. It is not good.”

Shopmobility was previously featured in the Worcester News when it was celebrating 21 years in business.

Manager at the time, Terry Norwood, said: “When it was first put into CrownGate the manager then was very sceptical about it but over the next few years he said he would fight tooth and nail not to let it go because he saw the amount of people it brings into the city. I think it’s something which Worcester doesn’t make enough of. We’ve had people come visit us from as far away as Japan to see how it’s run because it’s one of the best ones.”