SCORES of disabled people in the region could be left out of pocket and without vital mobility equipment after a healthcare company was forced to close.

Ashdale, which sells scooters, wheelchairs and mobility products, has been placed into administration following financial difficulties.

The company has branches in Darlington, Northallerton and at Sunderland's The Bridges shopping centre.

It issued a statement last night saying it had appointed receivers to look after the affairs of the company.

About 200 staff at outlets across the country have also been made redundant.

Customers who have paid a deposit for electrically- powered wheelchairs or scooters may get their money back under a protection scheme being operated by the British Healthcare Trades Association.

But the association said its members cannot honour orders where money has been paid in full.

Joan Smiles, from Mowden, Darlington, suffers from multiple sclerosis and had paid £2,600 for an electric scooter.

Her husband Chris, who is also an MS sufferer, said they had been unable to contact Ashdale about the scooter, which had yet to be delivered.

He said: "The worry is that a vulnerable section of the community could be affected by this, people who can ill afford to lose this kind of money."

The company has its head office in West Yorkshire and operates an engineering division as well as manufacturing its own mobility products under the name of Medicare Technology.

No one was available at its Darlington or Northallerton branches, although a member of staff at the Sunderland branch said it was continuing to trade.

A statement issued by Leeds receivers Geoffrey Martin and Company said that the firm had a "long history of trading losses".

Stephen Hull, of Geoffrey Martin, said: "The closure of the company's operations is the result of poor trading performance.

"There may be the possibility of resurrecting some of those operations through sales of some, or all, of Ashdale Healthcare's businesses and assets. "We are currently talking to a large number of interested parties on this matter," he said.

Ashdale customers wanting more information should call the association on (01732) 458868