A NEW mobility scooter shop could save a Southend charity for the disabled.

Dial Southend, which was on the verge of closing due to financial difficulties early this year, has opened a new Shop Mobility in the Victoria Shopping Centre, Southend.

The third-floor shop will give the charity, which had to close its Alexandra Street office in 2012, a new base to help disabled people fill in forms, write letters and apply for benefits.

Ron Alexander, vice-chairman of the charity, said: “One of the questions we are often asked is, why we don’t have a decent shop mobility unit in Southend.

“Our long-term plan was always to open up other services. The idea is to take in enough money to maintain the shop and run the charity.”

The shop is looking for donations of scooters, as it only has three to hire and already has bookings for August, from as far afield as Newcastle, Liverpool and Bristol. The shop will repair, sell and hire wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

Shop Mobility will be open from 10.30am to 6pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Dial Southend will be open from 10.30am to 3pm, Tuesday to Friday. To contact Dial Southend call 07594 227394 or email info@dialsouthend.org