AN employment service which helps people with learning disabilities will no longer be based in Hereford, due to lack of funding.

Mencap's specialist employment programme will be moved from Hereford to Worcester.

Norma Williams, from Kington, said her 23-year-old daughter Rebecca, who uses the service, was devastated to hear the news.

She said: "They have been supporting her for a couple of years on all issues. She has learning difficulties. They have managed to get her a job in Kington, which we never thought would happen.

"She has got a lot more independence than she used to."

Mrs Williams said travelling to Worcester will be a problem for Rebecca and they are upset the service will no longer be available in Hereford as they did "a wonderful job."

She added: "My daughter is devastated. It is her lifeline."

Tuulikki Harling, regional operations manager for Mencap said: “Mencap has been proud to have supported many people with a learning disability in Herefordshire to become valued and trusted employees over the years.

“There are just 7 per cent of people with a learning disability in employment and many barriers exist from a lack of work experience opportunities to the often negative attitudes of employers.

“Mencap has worked hard to break down these barriers, however due to a national climate of cuts to social care, funding to projects that support people with a learning disability has been sparse and increasingly reduced in recent years.

"Mencap will continue to fight in every way possible to change attitudes and support people with a learning disability, their families and carers to be valued equally, listened to and included.”