GLASTONBURY organiser Michael Eavis is believed to be one of the first customers of a new business set up and run by disabled people in York.

The York Disabled Workers Co-operative, created by former Remploy workers and the GMB union, has this week moved in to its new home at the Raylor Centre in James Street.

Founder member John Wilson, himself a former Remploy worker, said donations and orders were already coming, and the fledgling operation was in talks over supplying the world-famous Glastonbury Festival.

“We have had a number of sizeable donations and we have had talks with Michael Eavis who runs the Glastonbury festival,” said Mr Wilson. “He wants some picket fences for next year’s event.

“It’s good because a lot of people seem to be interested in what we are doing.

“It’s a new concept. It’s about giving people with learning difficulties or disabilities a chance to run their own co-operative.”

The current workforce of three is now making the new premises ready for three more members of staff it hopes to take on from Remploy in the coming weeks.

Machines and supplies are also starting to be delivered to the company, which will create wooden garden furniture and equipment.

Mr Wilson said: “People can work here in a secure environment. There’s always a number of people who need to have that and this is a blueprint for the future.

“This is not about an individual it’s about a belief,” he said.

The York Disabled Workers Co-operative came in to existence in York three months ago with £56,000 raised by workers and the GMB union.

It is hoped an official opening of the site will take place next month and that the company will be employing 12 people by the end of this year.