OLDER people living in rural areas around Bidford are being deprived of a weekly get-together with their friends because no volunteers have come forward to drive their minibus.

The 15-seater bus was previously used by Age Concern around Stratford but when the charity raised £51,000 for a new Stratford minibus, it gave the old bus to Bidford for use by elderly people in rural areas.

Previous appeals for volunteer drivers have failed to spark interest and the bus is now sitting in a lay-by because nobody is willing to drive it.

The shortage means up to ten elderly people in rural areas around Bidford who have no transport are being prevented from attending a weekly lunch club at Westholme Court in Bidford.

Age Concern development officer Lorraine Mansfield said: "Once the transport is in place we can start developing things and service more rural areas. Lunch clubs in village halls could soon come about and once we've opened up the transport network for older people, it's their vehicle and they can effectively use it as they like."

She said Age Concern would like three or four volunteer drivers to help share the workload, who could give up three or four hours on Wednesdays.

Full training is provided and expenses are paid for those who have to travel to Bidford.

Anyone interested in joining the Age Concern team should contact Lorraine Mansfield on 01789 205059 or 07967 393862.