A CHARITY shop manager has thanked the public for signing a petition to help disabled people and their families.

Sense launched a petition calling for better long-term support for people with disabilities.

The Sense shop in Long Wyre Street, Colchester, collected 2,167 signatures.

In total more than 35,000 signed it across the UK.

The petition followed Sense’s When I’m Gone report which showed 67 per cent of families caring for disabled adults are worried what will happen when they can no longer help.

Pauline Moules, Sense Shop Manager at Colchester, was one of the people who handed over the petition at 10 Downing Street last week.

She said: “I am really grateful to the local community and proud of my team for what they have achieved, showing such great compassion for an extremely good cause.

“Also, I was very pleased to represent Sense Colchester at 10 Downing Street.”

To find out more about the campaign, visit www.sense.org.uk/whenimgone.