A CHARITY which provides essential transport for Wyre Forest's elderly and disabled has added a gleaming new minibus worth nearly £30,000 to its fleet. Co-ordinator Bob Hartell takes a seat aboard Dial-a-Ride's new minibus.

Dial-a-Ride co-ordinator Bob Hartell said the £29,000 minibus has been purchased from Help The Aged using a grant from the Community Fund.

The charity runs about 200 return and 40 single journeys across the district each week, staffed by about 10 volunteers.

Its future was last year assured by a £190,000 lottery grant - which has helped maintain the level of service on offer - secured after hundreds of Shuttle/Times and News readers wrote letters in support of the service.