A unique project to help disabled and elderly people says it has been forced to cut its services because of a shortfall in financial support.

Dialability's mobile service, due to be launched this week, will be the first in the UK to travel around to towns and villages offering expert advice on benefits, social activities and products such as walking aids, bath lifts and kitchen gadgets.

It had banked on receiving £20,000 of NHS funding from Oxfordshire Health Authority, but has instead been given £14,500.

The charity's 22ft trailer was due to make three trips each week, between now and November, but it says some venues will now have to be cancelled.

Dialability manager and occupational therapist Sue Butterworth said the money was needed to pay for drivers, fuel and running costs. "We handle 6,000 enquiries a year and the mobile service is an invaluable way to meet those people facing a life change through illness, disability or accident," she said.

"We rely on volunteers to help us, but many are disabled themselves, so the money was needed to help run the service which we believe will cost £29,000.

"It's very tiring to get this news when we are trying to provide a service.

"We will have to lower the level of service now."

She said it was not yet decided which venues would be affected. The trailer was planning to visit Abingdon, Wantage, Faringdon, Marcham, Didcot, Sutton Courtney and Wallingford.

The special trailer will be an extension of the Oxford-based charity Dialability, at the Rivermead Centre, in Abingdon Road, which is part helpline and part showroom for products aimed at easing life.

The health authority said until this year, it jointly gave Dialability £29,000 every year with Oxfordshire Social Services.

Spokesman Steve Argent said the charity's treasurer had asked Health Improvement Programme co-ordinators if it was possible for them to fund a shortfall of £14,500 and had not requested £20,000.