POOLE residents travelled up to London on Wednesday to join the largest ever mass protest by people with disabilities.

More than 5,000 people took to the streets of Westminster for the Hardest Hit March against cuts to disability benefits.

The demonstrators, who finished up with a lobby to Parliament in Westminster Hall, were calling on the government to stop cuts to Disability Living Allowances, ensure benefits are fairly assessed and drop plans to cut day care, transport and respite care services.

Wheelchair user Wendy Tiffin, 44, from the Grange Leonard Chesire Home in Parkstone, will see her weekly income cut to just £22 under the new proposals to withdraw mobility funding from 2013.

Poole MP Robert Syms met her to listen to her concerns.

Wendy said: “I explained how it will effect me personally.

“I use my allowance to buy and maintain my wheelchair and to travel to see my family in Yeovil.

“I will not be able to afford to go back to see my mum, who has just been diagnosed with cancer.

“Mr Syms seemed very encouraging and I hope something will come of today.”

Julie Stainton, from Leonard Chesire Disability, accompanied Wendy.

She said: “Mr Syms was quite shocked by the information we gave him and sounded very sympathetic and how it will make a huge difference on people’s lives.

“People have made a lot of effort to get here today – it is very difficult for some of them to travel to London – and it was a passionate protest.

“Hopefully the government will sit up and take notice.”

Nick Bishop from Corfe Mullen has Cerebal Palsy.

The 24-year-old said: “If these cuts become policy they will leave a lot of people with far less independence.

“Everyone wants to be able to get out and about and these ill-considered changes could stop people of all ages doing that.”