Dial-A-Ride, provided by Stowmarket disability charity Optua, offers elderly, disabled and rurally-isolated people access to important services.

But the bus service relies on volunteer drivers and is currently struggling to find people to cover Wednesdays and Fridays.

Beatrice Llewelyn, 84, from Onehouse, who uses the service every week, said she hoped people would come forward.

"I don't know what I would do without it. I can't carry anything too heavy and there are so few regular buses from the village, so this is a Godsend," she said.

The service is used by more than 1,200 passengers a year, who rely on it to get to the shops, dentist, doctors or opticians.

James Powell, a spokesman for Optua, said: "These services are vital for many people but Optua constantly struggles to find enough volunteer drivers. We are currently not running on Wednesdays because there are no volunteers."

He said all volunteers would be paid expenses, given training and support.

Anyone interested in volunteering, or to find out more information, should call 01449 614271 between 9.30am and noon.


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