A CLITHEROE charity which provides wheelchairs and mobility scooters for use in and around the town could be forced to close after donations of stock slumped to a record low.

Ribble Valley Shopmobility was set up by Simon O’Rourke in 2007 and loans mobility equipment to those who need to get around the town from its Lowergate base.

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However, the charity, which has seven volunteers in total, only has three working mobility scooters left available alongside three wheelchairs with most of the remaining stock tide up in long-term loans.

The situation for the charity has got so bad that Mr O’Rourke, who has used a wheelchair for the last 11 years, has been forced to loan out his own and use a broken one instead so that others can get around the town with ease.

The dad-of-two, who has served on Clitheroe Town Council since 2010, said that he feared for the charity’s future if more stock donations are not brought forward this month.

He said a minimum of five mobility scooters and five more wheelchairs are needed.

He said: “I’m worried that without more donations of stock then our funding bid to Ribble Valley Borough Council could suffer and that will impact on us significantly.

“We need more stock going forward to help people to move around the town.

“We have people who come from all over the country to Clitheroe and say that they could only come because we are here.

“It’s a nightmare for a carer to push a wheelchair around this town because it is so hilly.

“Attracting more people to the town is good for business and tourism but this charity also provides the means for people with disabilities to have more freedom and independence.”

Mr O’Rourke said that the charity is hoping to secure a move to a larger premises in Railway View which is closer to the town’s train station and bus depot.

He said: “We are hoping to move in if a ramp is agreed with the council and the landlord but it might become difficult if we do not have enough stock to work the charity.”

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans said: “I will speak to Simon and see what I can do.

“He does a tremendous job and we need to make sure that a disabled person in the borough is able to lead as independent a life as possible.

“The charity does a great and vital job and I hope that more stock can be secured to make sure that the charity continues to operate in the area.”