AN award-winning independent charity that helps thousands of disabled people each year is shutting down because it has been refused Lottery cash.

Disability Access, in Crook, will close in September after failing to win funding from the National Lottery's Active Plus programme.

If the £131,000 bid had been successful, it would have opened the door to other grants - including £11,000 from Wear Valley District Council - and kept the charity going for three years.

But co-ordinator Ann Cowie and part-time worker Janice Gould are now dependent solely on reserve income, which they have earned by carrying out access surveys for organisations and businesses.

The charity, which is the only one of its kind in County Durham, picked up two new awards a few days ago.

Their Walking with Wheels guide for wheelchair users and parents with young children won an Access Award from Durham County Council.

There was also a commendation for an audit of Bishop Auckland town centre that led to kerbs being lowered and buildings being opened up to disabled people.

Mrs Cowie said: "The problem is that there are so many organisations bidding to the Lottery.

"We were told we were fundable, so there was nothing wrong with our bid - there just isn't enough money to go round.

"It has been a terrible time for us all. It is very frustrating because we need the lottery cash to qualify for other funding.

"We are very busy because nobody else does what we do and we really do improve people's lives.

Last year, Disability Access supported 2,500 clients from its base in Crook Business Centre and through its outreach service in villages.

It advises on access for disabled people and has helped clients get jobs and training.