DISABLED residents in Poole have been left outraged after learning the council is axing the maintenance service it provides for stairlifts.

Cash-strapped Borough of Poole has told stairlift users that from September it will no longer pay for the service and maintenance of equipment due to "financial pressures".

The installation of stairlifts into people's homes are funded by the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) - which are grants provided by local authorities to help meet the cost of adapting a property for the needs of a disabled person.

Borough of Poole had been covering the cost of annual services and repairs through its own budget.

But now the council is saying it can no longer afford to cover the costs and stairlift users will be expected to pay for services and repairs themselves as of September 9 this year.

A letter to residents from the council said: "Regrettably, the financial pressures faced by the council mean that it is no longer possible to pay for the service and maintenance of equipment funded by a DFG, and so I am writing to inform you that as of the September 9 2017 we will no longer be able to provide this service automatically.

"I am sure this will come as a disappointment to you, however this is in line with the approach taken by other local authorities nationally."

Seventy-year-old Brenda Boyd, who lives in Oakdale, has had a stairlift in her home for around seven years following a hip operation.

For her it is a lifeline that allows her to remain in the home she has lived in for 50 years.

"It just makes me so angry that the council is doing this," said Mrs Boyd.

"First it's the toilets and now the stairlifts. I thought council cuts to public services were happening in order to fund adult and social care.

"For me it's not necessarily the annual service fees that are the problem but the maintenance costs.

"It could get very pricey if something is wrong with the equipment. I'm a pensioner and can't really afford hundreds of pounds in maintenance bills."

Mrs Boyd has also questioned when the and how the council made the decision.

"I was not aware changes would be coming in until it was too late and the decision had already been made," she added.

A council spokesman said that because it was a contract change the decision could be made by officers.

The council has also said that for those unable to fund repairs themselves, assistance may be available via Adult Social Care Services as long as they meet the requirements which include having a low income and savings less than £500.