A DISABLED-friendly initiative pioneered by the Daily Echo now covers more than three-quarters of all town centre shops in Eastleigh.

The borough is now leading the way for other communities to make it easier for the disabled to shop, say town chiefs.

Shopmobility, which has helped to spearhead the scheme, provides scooters for disabled people to have the freedom of the shopping streets.

And it has played a major role in the Eastleigh Council scheme that annually awards certificates to those shops providing good access.

Local campaigner for the disabled, Dolly Dawes, briefed Liberal Democrat party president Simon Hughes about the scheme before he was taken on a tour of the shopping centre.

He was accompanied by Eastleigh MP David Chidgey and Hampshire MEP Chris Huhne.

The Daily Echo's Eastleigh High Street branch was one of the first to take part in the accessibility scheme and has since clinched a hat-trick of disabled-friendly certificates.

The scheme to promote disabled access has been hailed as a model for others, as during July and August more than 1,000 visitors used the Shopmobility scheme.

Mr Hughes said: "This is an excellent scheme that is setting a high standard for others to follow. I was impressed by the dedication and thoughtfulness of the volunteers and staff."

Mr Chidgey said: "Eastleigh has become a trendsetter in setting standards of access to shopping facilities for the disabled.

"I am delighted that this local service has taken off so well and is now an established part of our civic life."

Mr Huhne said: "There is now clear evidence that people are coming to Eastleigh from a wide area because it is so much easier for disabled people to shop here. One of the good side effects of the Eastleigh scheme is that most local shops are already complying with the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act, which came into force this year."