A NEW minibus that will serve Cleobury Mortimer and other towns and villages in south Shropshire has entered service.

Established in 2005, the Bridgnorth Community Transport Group provides affordable, accessible transport to people in the Bridgnorth area who have difficulty accessing other forms of transport.

They currently have three wheelchair accessible minibuses, and 20 trained volunteer drivers, with services running into Bridgnorth from Claverley, Cleobury Mortimer, Burwarton, Cleobury North, Ditton Priors, Hampton Loade and Alveley.

The new 14-seat vehicle was fully funded by the Government’s Community Transport Minibus Fund, and has an electric tail-lift to accommodate wheelchair users and those who cannot climb steps.

This fund was set up by the Transport Secretary in 2014, and has provided hundreds of minibuses to community schemes across the UK.

“I was pleased to hand over the keys for the new bus which has been funded by the Government’s Community Transport Minibus Fund,” said Philip Dunne MP.

“The group provide a valuable service to the local community, helping those with less access to transport due to age, sickness or cost, to get around in the Bridgnorth area.

"Volunteers are essential to the success of this scheme, who generously give up their time to help others, and many volunteer drivers were on hand to welcome this great new vehicle. This new minibus will help continue their important work, with more affordable, accessible transport for the area.”

Minibuses can be hired, along with volunteer drivers by local voluntary groups, who pay a mileage charge to cover a share of the running costs.