RESIDENTS are demanding answers from a retail chain after a neigbourhood store decided to abandon selling electricity cards.

People living near to the Early To Late store in Admirals Road, Oakwood, were surprised when it was suddenly announced that the cards would be withdrawn from sale.

Many properties in the area rely on the cards - and elderly and disabled customers say they have been left high and dry.

One is 48-year-old Kevin Oakes, of Whitethroat Walk, Oakwood, who is disabled and now has to rely on a neighbour to pick up his electricity supply on his way home from work.

He uses the British Gas version of the payment scheme and is perplexed at the decision.

"The shop where we used to get electricity cards just stopped doing them, without any explanation whatsoever," said Kevin.

"There was just a notice in the window saying that it was happening. It is not fair on pensioners and disabled people."

His troubles have been doubled because debts accrued by a previous tenant have left his property blacklisted - so it would cost him £90 to have another kind of electricity meter fitted.

Birchwood East councillor Dave Eccles has condemned the move and has been trying to secure an explanation from TM Retail, which operates the chain.

The nearest outlet for the electricity cards is two miles away at the Spar store in Locking Stumps.

Travel problems relating to the move have already been raised at a meeting of Oakwood Neighbourhood Association.

TM Retail remained unavailable for comment as the Guardian went to press.