A CHARITY which provides transport for Wyre Forest residents who cannot drive or access public transport has been boosted with a new vehicle.

Community Transport Wyre Forest has taken delivery of a Citroen mobility vehicle that will help isolated and vulnerable residents make vital hospital appointments, visits to day centres and other urgent trips.

The purchase was made possible after the charity, based at St Anne’s Church in Bewdley, received funding from the Department of Transport.

Beverley Coldrick, chief officer at Community Transport Wyre Forest, said: “This is important news for our area.

“We are a registered charity offering an invaluable service to isolated and vulnerable people living in and around the Wyre Forest area.

“We currently have in the region of 700 service users increasing daily. We rely on volunteers and desperately need more, with the retirement age rising this will become a major issue.

“With council cutbacks on the increase it is a struggle to carry these services on.”

Two fundraising events have been organised to raise money for the charity early next year. The first will be a quiz night at The Bewdley Pines Golf Club on January 19 while the second will be a concert with David Lawrence at the Mercure Hotel on February 2.