STUDENTS at Eastleigh's Barton Peveril College have won a big civic pat on the back for helping to make shopping easier for the disabled.

Second year health and social care students carried out research to test the accessibility of shops and businesses in Eastleigh.

The college was asked to get involved in the survey by Jill Dreyer, the co-ordinator of Eastleigh Shopmobility, who wanted to raise awareness of accessibility issues among the town centre business community.

The students' probe into facilities involved taking a wheelchair around the shops in the town centre. Their investigation included how easy it was to get into the store, its changing facilities, the availability of toilets for the disabled, and the attitude of staff.

The survey raised awareness among the students, shop management and store workers about the obstacles faced by people with disabilities and how these barriers could be removed.

The students' findings went to Eastleigh Borough Council, which produced a list of organisations that had passed the survey.

These businesses were then awarded a certificate and a sticker to display in the store to show their commitment to accessibility, which is now a must under the Disability Discrimination Act.

For their hard work, the students were presented with certificates signed by Eastleigh mayor Councillor June Hughes. These were presented by Councillor Chris Thomas, who said: "The students have made a difference to people's lives through carrying out this survey, which fits in well with the course that this group are studying."