A SERVICE which offers support and advice to disabled people across north Worcestershire is planning to expand after receiving more than £80,000 lottery cash.

Kidderminster-based North Worcestershire DIAL is celebrating the influx, which manager Adrian Couper said was its biggest ever.

DIAL - Disablement Information Advice Line - offers free and confidential advice to disabled people and their carers on all aspects of disability.

Mr Couper was delighted after the £83,094 sum was announced by the Community Fund on Tuesday.

DIAL, based at Sandalwood Resource Centre, Comberton Road, now plans to expand its range of services using the grant in the next three years.

Mr Couper said: "This is the biggest single contribution we have ever had. We're going to employ a benefits officer to further improve our service."

These improvements will come in the form of a new form-filling service.

And for the first time people who have applications for disability benefits turned down will get free guidance through the "very, very complex" appeals procedure.

The cash will also pay for office equipment and training.

DIAL was formed in 1989 and takes calls from the areas covered by district councils in Wyre Forest, Bromsgrove and Redditch.

The centre is manned six hours a day, five days a week. It is run by Mr Couper and 12 volunteers and advice workers and more are being trained.

DIAL has taken more than 1,000 calls in each of the last two years.

"Anybody who has any sort of query about disabled issues can ring us up. If we can't answer we will refer them elsewhere," Mr Couper said.

He said applying for the cash had been a lenghty process: "The application form is possibly the most difficult form you will ever see in your life.

"But we are very, very pleased."

The DIAL number is 0800 970 7202.