A CHARITY has been forced to take an award-winning service off the road, after a cut in funding.

For more than a decade, WGC-based HAD has taken mobile equipment, information and advice to disabled people around the county.

Known affectionately as Ivanhoe, the blue and green former railway maintenance lorry was a popular visitor to town centres and supermarket car parks.

But, as previously reported in the Welwyn Hatfield Times, the charity has been forced to reassess its finances, with Hertfordshire County Council set to axe its funding over the next three years as it looks to save millions of pounds.

And Ivanhoe has been the first to suffer.

HAD chief executive Annabelle Waterfield said: “It was a really difficult decision to make, particularly as its been providing such a popular service in the community for more than 12 years.

“However, tough times mean tough decisions have to be made.

“The lorry is old and expensive to run and coupled with huge cuts to our budget mean it was impossible to continue.

“Our ultimate goal is to keep HAD in business and continue helping older and disabled people in Hertfordshire and beyond.”

Ivanhoe won the National Information Forum’s Getting The Message Across Award in 2006 for its work in providing a benefits advice outreach service.