TWO new minibuses are poised to come into service to help improve rural transport.

Thanks for funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the new buses will be used across six areas including Teign Valley, Chudleigh, Bovey, Ashburton, Haytor and Ambrook, providing additional transport links for many residents.

The project has been a collaboration between Teignbridge District Council (TDC), Dartmoor National Park Authority, Newton Abbot Community Transport Association and local town and parish councils.

Funding has been guaranteed to support the minibuses for five years.

To run the new minibuses, Newton Abbot Community Transport is looking to recruit additional volunteer drivers to help transport individuals to medical appointments, grocery stores, and other essential journeys.

There is also a need for admin volunteers to help in the Newton Abbot office to answer the phone and take bookings.

Volunteer drivers and admin personal can choose to work any days between Monday and Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Cllr Stuart Rogers, member for Ashburton and Buckfastleigh, said: ‘We’re really excited to have purchased these additional minibuses with the government funding to help increase the community transport offering across Teignbridge.

‘All organisations involved have come together to bid for the funding to make this happen and we know it will make a massive difference to our communities.

‘However, to make sure the new services are a success, we really want to recruit some additional volunteer drivers.

‘The volunteer drivers we currently have do a fantastic job and we’d really like more people to join them. They give up their time to help our residents get to appointments, pick up shopping and other essentials, and without them our community transport services, which are the lifeline for some rural communities, wouldn’t be able to run.’

It is anticipated the new services will be launched next month.

Anyone wishing to volunteer as a driver would need to be available for at least one day each week, have a clean driving licence (with category D1), and a DBS check.

Anyone interested in volunteering should email [email protected]