Pictured at Saturday’s mobility mini road show are, left to right, Deputy Jane Stephens, Sue Vernon, Sarah Whitchurch, Mary Herve and Terry Dowinton. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 0752137)

ISLANDERS with mobility problems who want to drive have been given fresh hope.

A new charity, Guernsey DriveAbility, was launched at the mobility mini road show at the Grammar School on Saturday.

It has been set up by UK occupational therapist and qualified driving instructor Sue Vernon, who visits the island to assess disabled people who want to drive.

She said that when she first came to the island she recognised a need for such medical fitness advice.

‘I was inspired to set this up because there was a huge need for a mobility service,’ she said. ‘Here, if you had a medical illness and wanted to drive, you would have had to go to the mainland to be assessed, but sometimes that is not always possible.

‘Also, if you are assessed on the mainland you are taken on 50 or 60mph roads, which is nothing like the situation here.’

The idea of creating Guernsey DriveAbility was raised in November.