A report to be considered by Mansfield district councillors says money raised by the changes will be used to improve the service.

The Shopmobility service has been providing scooters and powered wheelchairs for free for 12 years.

Dial, the disability information service, says the plan to charge �2 a time amounts to discrimination.

Jane Hall, spokesperson for Dial said: "I think for some people who go into town on a daily basis - not always to shop but for the social aspect - its going to be �5, �6, �7, �8, �10 extra that they've got to find.

"It is money which they could spend on having a coffee or buying a few groceries.