More and more services are being stripped from the elderly and disabled, Burton Mail readers claim, as anger rises over the closure of the town’s Shopmobility service.

The East Staffordshire Borough Council-operated mobility scooter hire service will close its doors on Friday, July 21, amid fury that it will lead to less able older people being unable to visit the shops in Burton.

The council said it could not find an appropriate provider willing to take on the service, having completed a money-saving review.

Burton Mail readers have now slammed the move, branding it “disgusting” for the older generation.

Brian Stocks wrote on the Burton Mail’s website: “Yet again obvious cutbacks to essential services to the vulnerable by our "caring" local council.

"These are simply easy targets to save money rather than putting some thought into where these cutbacks should be centred on NONE essential services.”

Aaron Heron posted a message on Facebook which said: “I'm disabled. I used their scooters every week helping me get about the town.

"It's disappointing that they have done this to so many people. Burton Premier Mobility hire them at £2 per hour or £6 for the day compared to Shopmobility at £1.50 from 9am to 2.15pm.

"Cutting stuff from the disabled and elderly is wrong on many levels. Some of the older generation just hire them so they can get out and about for few hours.”

Adrian Pullen said: “It is bad. Burton needs to look after the people who can't walk.”

And Ann Pajor said: “It's a shame; it's disgusting. How are they going to do their shopping?”

Meanwhile Gregory Martin called Shopmobility a “vital service” and Kim MacBeth said she was “speechless” at the news.

Lyn Hooper said: “It is unbelievable how our elderly and disabled are treated.”

Meanwhile, Karen Langslow was angry, saying: “This council has stooped to an all-time low. Pick on the disabled, elderly and vulnerable people.”

Susan Grice also asked: “Who has the right to take this away from them? Let’s hope they (the council) needs something one day.”

Lizzie Lavill said it means she will have to save up for a mobility scooter for her mother: “I was just mentioning this today for my mum as now she's struggling on her crutches.

"Looks like we will have save to buy her a standard one for shopping as it's now becoming more of a task for her than a normal day-to-day chore.”

Borough council leader Richard Grosvenor said the authority was currently considering how best it could fairly distribute its existing equipment so that regular users can still benefit from it.

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He also claimed that for the local economy, this was a positive approach, saying it wants to promote local economic growth rather than compete with local traders.

There are several local mobility equipment providers which current service users can contact for their mobility needs.

However, some of these are more expensive or are based out of town.