SENIOR councillors are to spend an extra £200,000 in support for disabled people after a potential cash crisis emerged.

Darlington Borough Council will spend more money into the disabled facilities grants (DFG) scheme, which allows residents to upgrade their homes, to cope with huge demand. In 2003-4, the council set a DFG budget of £270,000, but spent £610,000.

For 2004-5, the same budget was set, but was increased to £484,000.

Officials said projections to the end of the year show demand will exceed the revised budget by almost £700,000.

A report calls for a further £200,000 to be allocated this year to clear the backlog of cases.

The report said the problem arose because of local occupational therapy waiting lists being eradicated. With more people living at home, demand for improvements has risen.