A STEETON company is helping wheelchair-bound patients access a hospice's facilities.

Acorn Stairlifts has loaned a specially-adapted vehicle to the West Midlands Marie Curie Hospice in Birmingham.

The £10,000 car will be on loan for two years initially, with its insurance, road tax and servicing costs covered by Acorn.

Suzanne McArthur, community palliative care lead at the hospice, said: "The generosity of Acorn Stairlifts will enable more patients in the community to attend day services at the hospice, with our volunteer drivers now being able to collect them from their homes.

"Until now, many of our wheelchair-bound service users have found it difficult to regularly access the services.

"The car will be a lifeline for these people."

Dave Belmont, Acorn's company secretary, said: "To be able to provide the West Midlands Marie Curie Hospice with this vehicle is another step in our programme of community support.

"Our entire team is delighted to be able to make a real difference to people's lives."