ELEVEN new companies were founded by a scheme to equip disabled people with business skills.

Hyndburn New Steps was funded by Hyndburn Council’s working neighbourhoods fund (WNF) grant, a cash pot designed to help people back into work.

Among the new ventures set up were one that tests paintwork on pipelines, a company that translates ancient documents and a window installation firm.

However, the WNF money has now run out and bosses are looking for a way to fund the project to keep it running.

Brenda Kean, of East Lancashire into Employment, which ran Hyndburn New Steps, said: “The need for this type of specialist support is growing.

“And the clients with health issues and low confidence levels needing our training means more clients are being referred to us every week, but we can no longer offer our services to them free of charge.

“The impetus we have built up by having a weekly base in Accrington will now unfortunately be lost.”