WEAR Valley Disability Access Forum has been commissioned to check that disabled people can gain access to the district's community buildings.

The forum, based at Crook Business Centre, has been asked to complete audits on 18 places of worship and community centres around Crook and Bishop Auckland.

The move will help companies and organisations comply with the Disability Discrimination Act by October 2004. The Act aims to ensure those services are reasonably accessible to people with a disability and usually considers whether the building is user-friendly.

Forum members have started to audit buildings and offer guidance on reasonable adjustments ready for when the act comes into force.

For information contact Anne Cowie, Unit 5, Crook Business Centre, New Road, Crook, DL15 8QX. Or call (01388) 763994.