Trustees of the North Tamar Community Transport Association (NTCTA), volunteers, drivers, and clients as well as the Mayor of Holsworthy, the Portreeve and district councillors gathered in the Skills Centre last Thursday evening to celebrate the re-launch of the Ring and Ride service in the area.

In March the NTCTA was awarded £311,176 lottery funding to buy a brand new 14 seater coach equipped to take wheelchairs, to expand the service and to cover its running costs over the next five years. Hitherto the service has been provided by a bus hired from Devon County Council and its availability has been limited by its being needed to provide school transport.

David Perkin, the chairman of the NTCTA, said: "This new funding will enable us to own a bus which will be available for the whole day, so we shall be able to expand the service to new destinations and covering a wider area. We shall arrange some evening and weekend outings and the bus will also be available for hire to community and youth groups."

Clara Rushton, who lives on her own on the edge of Holsworthy, said: "The Ring and Ride has been a real life-line for me. I can go shopping for myself and friends and enjoy the trips to places further afield. I don't know how I'd manage without it."

The new bus has not yet been delivered and there will be a further 'launch event' when it arrives. The NTCTA Holsworthy Hospital Hoppa bus was underused and had to be withdrawn, so Mr Perkin appealed for people to spread the word and to use the Ring and Ride to ensure its continued success.