Charity workers who have spent 25 years keeping the elderly and infirm independent are worried about their future if NHS managers demolish their Oxford headquarters.

Dialability, which offers information and advice about disability products and services, will have nowhere to go if it is forced to leave the Mary Marlborough Centre, at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, where it has been since 1982.

Managers at the Headington-based hospital claim the MMC is five years past its 30-year life span and is too expensive to run in its current state.

They are exploring a range of options, but have launched a business case to knock the building down and lease the land to a developer.

Although the unit's NHS services, including prosthetics, would be moved to other areas of the hospital, it is unclear whether Dialability would be offered alternative accommodation.

Charity manager Sue Butterworth said the service helped 6,000 people a year.

She added: "We fit with the NOC because they deal with patients with hip replacements, long-term arthritis and prosthetics - all of whom need equipment for easier living.

"The NOC tells us we don't have much traffic through our service anyway and we're not an acute service, but consultants and physiotherapists all refer their patients to us."

The charity lived rent-free at the NOC until last year, when it was billed £20,000 to stay. It has been given a contract at the site until August.

Ann Speechley has had eight hip operations and became a Dialability volunteer after getting help from the charity, including a powered wheelchair, equipment for her bath and a lift for her bed.

She said: "They helped me put my life back together. All the equipment and advice they offer is so important."

A spokesman said: "The trust has not made any firm decisions about the future use of the MMC.

"The trust recognises the excellent advice and support Dialability provides."