DISABLED people hoping to install crucial equipment in their homes may be forced on to waiting lists.

Malvern Hills District Council has written to the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, to seek an increase in the Government's 60 per cent contribution to the Disabled Facilities Grant.

Local disabled people apply for the grants so they can install things like wheelchair ramps, walk-in safety showers and baths. Although the applications are means-tested, they are given automatically to eligible applicants.

In the last financial year, MHDC funded 59 applications totalling £273,000. That left them facing a £109,000 bill after the Government had paid its share.

Head of housing, revenue and technical services, Keith Parry, said: "That's a significant amount of money and for small councils there are other competing interests for that kind of capital funding.

"If demand in the new year outgrows the demand this year then we might have to put people on waiting lists."

Mr Parry stressed that the improvements made using the money helped to keep hospital admissions down.

"If elderly or frail people can't manage in their own home they may have to go into long-term residential care or into hospital if they've had a fall," he said. "This is one of the most important services which helps to keep older people in their own homes.

"In recent years demand has grown especially with the average age of the population increasing. In an area like Malvern, which is a popular retirement spot it, will be even more important in the years ahead."

To ease the financial burden, Mr Parry said MHDC was lobbying the Govern-ment to increase its contribution to around 70 per cent.

However, a spokesman for the Deputy Prime Minister's Office, Gavin McGuire, said it was "highly unlikely" that MHDC would get any more money in the next financial year.

He said money given to councils was based on the previous year's take-up and that only two other local authorities had complained about their grant.

Mr McGuire said that nearly £100 million would be paid in Disabled Facilities Grants over the next three years and that there was no chance of extra funds for any shortfall.