AN innovative scheme to help disabled people in the Darlington area to get back into work could be extended after proving a big success.

The Morrison Trust Job Brokering Service, based at the Morton Park Business Training Centre, is currently supporting 175 people in their efforts to find employment.

Bosses said they want the New Deal for Disabled scheme to continue for at least another two years.

The scheme is a collaboration between WM Morrison Enterprise Trust, JobCentre Plus, Darlington Borough Council and the Darlington Partnership.

Sixty people on health-related benefits have already been given the assistance they needed to find work since the project was launched in July 2001.

Denis Coogans, one of the job brokers, said: "It is not a compulsory, it is a voluntary programme so the person makes the decision to come themselves, which is a good selling point to employers because it shows which people are willing. We will try and find jobs that people want to do and not just offer them anything. They know what will best suit their circumstances and can look about to see what they want to do."

Despite taking a year to get off the ground, the scheme is now well-established aiding disabled people. Mr Coogans said 70 per cent of all clients who found jobs through the scheme had stayed in them.

"We have just made a bid to JobCentre Plus to get a two-year extension - there are certain criteria but we more than meet those, so we are pretty hopeful," he added.

Clients have come mainly from the Darlington area, but some people have travelled other parts of the North-East to make use of the service.

Anyone interested in the work of the scheme telephone (01325) 387700.