SHOPPERS who find it hard to get about will be able to pick up Christmas presents thanks to a cash boost.

A £12,000 donation from Renfrewshire Council will help fund the Shopmobility Paisley and District service which operates in the town centre.

Shopmobility provides a range of wheelchairs and scooters, free of charge to people with mobility issues who would otherwise struggle to get around the shops.

The charity, based in the Paisley Centre multi-storey car park in Storie Street, also provides volunteer escorts.

Iain McMillan, convener of the council's social work, health and wellbeing policy board, presented the cheque to charity staff and service users.

He said: "For many people, even a quick trip to the shops can be a real challenge and often they will have to rely on friends and family for transport and support.Services like this allow people with mobility ­issues to live with a greater degree of independence and to do so with confidence.

"The team behind Shopmobility do a great job in running of this excellent service and we are delighted to be able to help them."

Shopmobility Paisley and district chairman Tommy Porter added: "We are a charity which helps people with ­mobility difficulties live with a bit more independence.

"This money will be used to meet our running costs and to pay for the maintenance of the scooters. We would like to thank the council as without it we couldn't function."

The service runs from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday and from 10am until 3pm on Saturdays.

For more information about the Shopmobility service call 0141 889 0441 or email info@shop mobilitypaisley.org.

vivienne.nicoll@ eveningtimes.co.uk