NIMBLE-fingered craftsfolk who have disabilities are being invited to market their talent and take part in a new business venture.

Mr Stanley Oakes, of Gloucester Avenue, Accrington, says his new Disablement Industries Association will be a way of reducing the dole queue, if it takes off. He believes disabled people are overlooked as unemployable, but have many skills which could be marketed for the benefit of themselves and the community.

Mr Oakes and his wife, Muriel, who both have disabilities, set up a charity, the Disablement Independence Association Trust, in 1984. They have both been researching and working towards the new limited company which was established earlier this week.

Mr Oakes, a leather engraver, hopes that people with disabilities who have talents, such as soft toy making, sewing, knitting, woodwork, or any craft, will contact him on 01254 399610. He intends to put details of the trades within the Association on the Internet, which could encourage prospective buyers.

Members market their own products and any Association profits are returned to the disablement charity fund.

Mr Oakes hopes that people of East Lancashire will support his plan and believes it is an enterprise which could benefit people nationwide.

He said: "There's a lot of talent and intellect which is just being wasted.

"Twenty per cent of the population are disabled in some way and if we can get just half of them to join in with something like this there will be no limit to what we can do."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.