Keighley's town centre boss has started a campaign for disabled trolleys in all local supermarkets.

Councillor Barry Thorne is delighted with the initial response.

Iceland and Aldi immediately promised to buy special trolleys that attach to the wheelchairs of disabled people.

And Sainsburys and Morrisons already have easy-to-use trolleys that meet requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act. Coun Thorne, chairman of Keighley Town Centre Management Group, started his campaign after taking his mother-in-law shopping in her wheelchair.

He discovered that most local supermarkets do not meet the requirements of the Act, which says shops must take reasonable steps to provide the same level of service to disabled and able-bodied people.

He says that in order to meet the Act's requirements, trolleys must be able to attach to a customer's wheelchair. "If someone is pushing their own wheelchair they can't push a trolley too, and even if someone else is pushing, the shopper might have something like arthritis."

Councillor Thorne says that while some shops are willing to provide staff to help disabled people shop, this takes away the dignity of the individual.

He adds: "It's good business to have the trolleys available. We have to give Keighley a good name as far as the disabled and elderly. Keighley already has good access for disabled people, with schemes such as Shopmobility, and most shops have very good access and helpful assistants."

A spokesman for Morrisons said the firm always recognises the needs of disabled customers and tries to make their shopping trips more comfortable.

A Sainsburys spokesman said the company provided a range of trolleys that meet various needs. "Anything that makes shopping more easy is good, especially for disabled people."

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