THE OKEHAMPTON Ring and Ride service will be extended to parents with young children thanks to a grant of £13,000 from Okehampton Town Council for a new vehicle.
The six-seater vehicle will supplement the service which already provides transport for elderly and disabled people in rural areas.
Okehampton and District Community Transport Group chairman Judy Pride said: 'We are thrilled to be able to offer this new service. The great thing is that by using a people carrier we will be able to extend it to parents with young children and those living in a deep rural isolation.'
Also funded by the Devon Rural Transport Partnership, the service will operate from September and will travel to different parts of the area on different days. Journeys will be booked through the local transport co-ordinator and will provide people with the opportunity to go shopping, visit friends or attend medical appointments.
Mayor of Okehampton Christine Marsh said this was an excellent initiative, which the town council was delighted to support: 'We recognise the importance of transport to the rural community,' she said. 'This new vehicle will be able to bring more people from the villages into Okehampton to enjoy the range of facilities we have here.'
The transport group hopes to make the vehicle available for hire during the evenings, providing youth clubs or mums and toddlers groups with an excellent opportunity to access local social and sporting activities.