The chief executive of Oxford city centre management company OX1 took a trip on a motorised scooter to see how traders could improve access for disabled people.

Bill McCardle borrowed an electric scooter from the city council-run Shopmobility scheme to make his way around the Covered Market and the open-air market in Gloucester Green.

He organised the trip with Shopmobility manager Robin Brooks to find out how the scheme, which offers scooters and wheelchairs free-of-charge, and provides 25 free ground-level parking spaces at the Westgate multi-storey car park, helped disabled shoppers.

Shopmobility, which runs from the Westgate car park, was set up in Oxford in 1996 and has 1,850 members. It has 18 electric scooters, six electric wheelchairs and five manual wheelchairs.

Mr McCardle said while the scheme was a great success, there was more some traders could to do improve access.

He said: "With hundreds of people using Shopmobility in Oxford, it's clear that ours is a very accessible city.

"At the same time, there are areas where we can encourage traders to build on the good work being done on this issue and make further improvements."

Mr Brooks said: "Shopmobility members very much appreciate the work that is already being done by very many traders and stores to improve access. "This tour gives us the chance to demonstrate how much of Oxford city centre is already accessible, but also to point out to OX1 some areas, especially at busy shopping times like Christmas, where just small changes to shop layout and the way goods are displayed could make a big difference."

Following the success of the Oxford scheme, West Oxfordshire District Council introduced Shopmobility to Witney town centre last year.

It has six electric scooters, two electric wheelchairs and four manual wheelchairs.

The Vale of White Horse District Council is also researching setting up Shopmobility in Abingdon.

It is hoping to run a pilot scheme and said similar projects could be set up in Botley, Faringdon and Wantage, if it proved successful.

Oxford's Shopmobility service opens Monday to Friday, from 9.30am to 4pm, and is free to anyone with mobility problems. Call 01865 248737.