ON MONDAY, March 4, drivers of the Camelford and District Age Concern mini bus were presented with their keys to the new mini bus outside the King Arthur’s Arms in Tintagel.

This is the fourth or fifth bus that the organisation has had since it started the service 30 or 40 years ago. The bus has been picking people over 50 and up from their homes to go on shopping trips and to many other places of interest throughout Devon and Cornwall.

This latest bus comes fully equipped with an electric lift for people in wheelchairs or with mobility problems. Seats at the back are removable so a wheelchair can be safely secured and a seatbelt supplied. The purchase of this bus has only been made possible with the generous contributions from the local community, the National Lottery, Cornwall Community Foundation and Cornwall Council’s Community Chest scheme.

This service is well supported in the local area but there is always a need for volunteers to enable the service to continue. In particular there is a need for new drivers as a number of the regular drivers are retiring this year. For those with a class B1 on their driver’s licence and would be prepared to drive the mini bus once or twice a month, then contact Mike Parsons by email [email protected]. It is only with the generous help of volunteers that they can continue to provide this important service.