NOWADAYS, it might be assumed disabled people are well catered for with regard to shop access and transport in Redditch.

But if you are in a wheelchair on a trip to a frozen food store in the town centre, you might be on a hiding to nothing.

Redditch Disabled Access Group chairman Dot Hickman said: "I for one, can't see what's in the freezers. It's not as if Redditch has a proper supermarket in the town centre anymore and getting out to the big ones is difficult without transport."

Mrs Hickman, who joined the group two years after it started in 1986, said there had been improvements in disabled access in the town but there was still work to be done - and younger group members to be recruited.

"Transport is a big issue for disabled people," said Mrs Hickman.

"I haven't been on a bus for 20 years. It's all very well having these low-level buses for wheelchairs and pushchairs but they're all in Worcester.

"We get all the old buses here in Redditch because we're bottom of the list."

The lobbying group, which has 12 members with various disabilities, meets monthly and is often consulted by stores or the council if there is a new development on the cards.

It is also supported financially by Redditch Council.

"The Kingfisher Centre is very good for disabled people nowadays," said Mrs Hickman.

"But it hasn't always been like that. There used to be automatic doors which you had to press a button to open and they would almost take your arm off.

"And the button was on one side. What if you were disabled on that side?

"There are still one or two of the older shops in the centre which are less accessible but on the whole, it's good."

The group is also publicising the fact the Disability Discrimination Act will bring in new laws in October requiring that disabled people are not discriminated against in the workplace.

Anyone who would like to join the Access Group can call Mrs Hickman on 591463.

The group would particularly like to have representation from deaf people.