WHEN Ann Sillifant of Holsworthy Beacon decided to book for the ring and ride trip to Badger's Holt Restaurant at Dartmeet in December, she did not know she would be the 20,000th person to take a trip on the Holsworthy based Ring and Ride service, writes Christine Williams.

To celebrate this notable milestone, on Tuesday, February 14 she was visited by Martin Prentice, Chairman of Holsworthy Rural Community Transport Ltd, Cathy Withall co-ordinator and Angie Brant, one of the drivers. They presented her with a bouquet of flowers and a £20 ring and ride voucher.

Since it started in 1999, the ring and ride service has provided the people Holsworthy and the 28 surrounding parishes with door-to-door shopping trips, days out and a much valued social event for the elderly.

Two years ago the NTCTA (North Tamar Community Transport Association), as it then was, was awarded £311,176 lottery funding. This enabling it to buy a brand new 14 seat coaches equipped to take wheelchairs, to expand the service and to cover its running costs over the following five years.

For the full report, and a round up of the area news and sport, please pick up this week's edition of the 'Post'.