A PENSIONER has been given back her freedom after a mobility scooter was donated.

Yvonne Humphreys, 69, of Archer Avenue, Southend, was left heartbroken after her mobility scooter was stolen from her front garden on Sunday, July 1.

However, after seeing an article in last Wednesday’s Echo, president of DIAL Southend, Ron Alexander, 66, decided to offer one of the charity’s mobility scooters to Ms Humphreys to replace her stolen one.

Mr Alexander, one of the founding members of the disability information charity, said: “Being a wheelchair user myself, I know how important it is to have your independence and be able to get out and experience life.

“After seeing her story, I knew I had to help Yvonne, it can really knock your confidence to have something like that happen.

“At DIAL we are always aiming to make Southend as accessible as possible, and this seemed like a great opportunity to help. Disabled people and the elderly have always been pushed out of society, and it has always been our mission to break down those barriers.

“This is the first scooter we have donated, and I’m confident that it is going to a great new home.”

DIAL Southend is run by a group of volunteers, most of whom are disabled themselves, and offers the hire of wheelchairs and mobility scooters, through Victoria Shopping Centre based Shopmobility, that can help Southend become a more accessible place for those with additional requirements.

After receiving the scooter, Mrs Humphreys said: “The scooter will take a bit of getting used to, but I am so happy that people have reached out to me.

“I am so grateful to Ron and everybody else at DIAL, they were so kind and have really helped - without a scooter I felt quite isolated.

“Even though I can now get around and feel much better, I’d be really grateful to find out what happened to my old scooter - if it was returned there would be no questions asked.”

If you have any information, call Southend police station, quoting crime 42/92769/18, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously.