A GROUP which scrutinises access for disabled people in the city's museums and galleries have enlisted the help of a website to improve the amount of information available for visitors.

City of York Council's Disabled Access Scrutiny Task Group met with DisabledGo in a bid to give customers a guide to a venue's facilities.

The company already provides visitors with extensive facts on 25 York buildings, but the group has been tasked with consulting organisations to build on what is already available.

Dean Eales, business, development and account manager for DisabledGo, told the meeting: "If you go on a museum's website there will be limited or no access information.

"It will say we have full accessibility but if you have the DisabledGo guide you can see how much accessibility it has before you arrive.

"If there are any other areas like a restaurant we will take pictures and put them on the website.

"It also gives an idea of the manoeuvrability spaces and if there's a lift we will look at what floors you can access it from."

At the moment, the company visits every attraction in person to carry out an in-depth 1,000-question survey.

Following the visit, the company builds a unique guide to inform visitors of the help available inside, then embeds a link to the page on York council's website or a museum's dedicated page.

The information is also available on smartphones or tablets via an app.

The idea of increasing the council's partnership with DisabledGo was backed by councillors in the task group.

Cllr Neil Barnes said: "I know someone that has to micro-plan their day for accessibility information and ring up everywhere before they go out.

"If we can make that planning easier it would be a win win all around because users are most important at the end of the day."

Cllr Julie Gunnell, chairman, added: "If we talk with DisabledGo it will naturally encourage other businesses to be a part of that because it's a forum for investing and hopefully very positive.

"To have it available on your phone is such an accessibility triumph and it's massive."