New minibus a 'lifeline' to rural community

Upper Coquetdale Community Transport serves one of the most sparsely populated areas of England

A charity which has been described as a "lifeline" by elderly people has been awarded more than £200,000 to buy a new minibus.

Upper Coquetdale Community Transport (UCCT) takes people who live in one of Northumberland's most isolated, rural communities to appointments or on day trips.

The cash has been awarded by the National Lottery Community Fund.

UCCT's Lesley Leeson said the service helped people do "essential things" like food shopping as well as go on excursions so that they were not "stuck in their homes all the time".

Coquetdale is an area of Northumberland with limited public transport

"As a rural community, other transport options often aren't available, especially for people with mobility issues," Ms Leeson said.

"Our volunteer drivers, in particular, do an amazing job because they know all our clients and sometimes they are the only people they see all week."

Lesley Leeson says the service provides many clients with a chance to socialise

Established in 2004, UCCT is the only community transport organisation working in Upper Coquetdale, west of Rothbury.

Barbara Denison, who uses the service regularly, said it was a "lifeline" to her.

"There's no buses where I live and I don't drive, so when my husband passed away, it was hard for me to get out," she said, adding: "It's brilliant, because all the people on the bus, we're all friends and we look forward to seeing each other."

Barbara Denison does not drive and says the bus is a lifeline to her

John Lazarus, UCCT chair of trustees, said the new bus would be the organisation's third.

"Over the years the bus has been used by over 120 community groups which shows you what a vibrant community this is," he said.

"This is an area with few public services and has lots of older people many of whom would not leave their homes without it."