CENTRAL Devon MP Mel Stride dropped into Okehampton Business Centre recently to see how the Okehampton District Community Transport Group has settled into its new office.

Mr Stride took part in the organisation's awareness week this summer but had yet to see the new office it moved into a year ago.

He also met with Alasdair Barclay — the managing director of DataCapture Ltd — a neighbouring business that has kindly developed a new web-based appointments booking system for the group at no cost.

Speaking after his visit Mr Stride said: 'Residents in Okehampton and the surrounding area are very lucky to have this fantastic local service on their doorstep.

'The new office is certainly a big step forward from the office the group was previously operating out of at the railway station.

'I was very pleased to hear how Datacapture Ltd has kindly donated their time in developing a new booking system for the group. There's no doubt the relocation and new system is helping to provide residents with an even better local service.'

Pat Sawyer, who showed Mr Stride around the new office, said: 'We're very pleased with our new office here. It's given us extra space to operate from, is more comfortable for our office volunteers and gives us an easily accessible location from the A30.

'We're currently looking for more drivers to help us meet demand and anyone interested in volunteering should call us on 01837 55000.'

Okehampton District Community Transport Group is a community-led scheme supported by Devon County Council and West Devon Borough Council to provide transport for those who have little or no access to public transport or find it physically difficult to use it.

The group allows residents to book one-off journeys such as attending medical appointments or going food shopping. Transport is provided by volunteer drivers using their own vehicles and residents are charged just 50p a mile.

Around 650 households in Okehampton and the surrounding area are registered to use the group's services and each month, on average, around 250 people benefit from the service.

To find out more call the group on 01837 55000.