A CHARITY which works with the disabled is back on Teesside after solving funding problems.

Northern Pinetree Trust, which helps people with disabilities develop their own business, was forced to withdraw its services on Teesside 18 months ago following the demise of a sponsor organisation.

But normal service has been resumed with new partner, business start-up company Walker Hall Associates, which has helped launch more than 5,000 new companies in the area - 85 per cent of which are still in operation after two years.

The trust provides counselling to people with disabilities or long-term illness and 120 of them have started their own business.

General manager Michael Leithgrow said: "In Walker Hall, we at last have a group of people who recognise that a person's opportunity to start their own business or move into self employment should be judged on their abilities, not their disabilities. The only factor allowed to influence the businesses success is the ability of the individual entrepreneur and not some external barrier.''