THE former manager of Chester's Shopmobility service has been left in limbo since it closed.

Sue Spencer, who ran the scheme for more than six years, says she has not been paid for the last two months of working there and is struggling to get a new job because there is no-one available to give her a reference.

And despite Chester City Council confirming they will reopen the scheme - which provided subsidised mobility scooters and wheelchairs to disabled people - on May 21, she's not been told whether she will be involved.

It was closed down last month after an investigation into the city council's access service - which saw an officer suspended - revealed it was operating without public liability insurance.

According to the police, Tim Metcalfe, chief access officer at the council, is still missing but is considered to be at low risk.

Mrs Spencer, of Wrexham, said: 'I don't know what to say.

'The council haven't told me anything. It's important they get the service up and running again because it's not fair on people who use the service to have to go to Delamere Street or Sealand Road.'

Her husband Mike, who used the scheme on a temporary basis after a hip replacement, added: 'Sue is struggling to get another job as there is nobody to give her a reference and she is classed as self-employed and therefore not covered by jobseeker's allowance.

'The whole thing stinks.'

Annette Lawrence, of Guy Lane, Waverton, welcomed the return of Shopmobility but explained the impact the closure had on her.

'It's like going through the grieving process - it takes your freedom away,' she said.

'You can't go into town and you can't do your shopping. There was also a social scene attached to it - I've made many good friends there and that has disappeared as well.'

Brenda Wallace, of Allington Place, Handbridge, added: 'Basically I can't do very much - I was in town for exactly ten minutes yesterday and had to get a taxi home.'

A spokesperson for the city council said: 'We are going out to tender for a new company to deliver the Shop-mobility service and aim to have it up and running by May 21.

'The responsibility for paying Miss Spencer lies with Chester Access Group which operated the Shopmobility service. We helped to fund Shop-mobility through Chester Access Group.

'We understand that Miss Spencer has already been in contact with city council staff. However, if she would like to discuss matters further we are happy to contact her.

'Our own investigations are still ongoing and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.'

tom.sieber@cheshirenews.co.uk