A VITAL community transport service could be in danger of collapse unless new volunteers are found. Tavistock Community Bus is one of the flagship service providers of its type in the county and has been running for 25 years. But several members of its hardworking committee will soon be standing down ? and it is in desperate need of volunteers to co-ordinate the popular runs. Members of Tavistock Town Council?s finance committee this month heard three new co-ordinators were needed to keep the service running. Cllr Robin Pike said: ?Driver numbers aren?t so bad. The committee members are getting to the end of their time and they really need to pass it on to other people. ?It provides a very good service and gets people in from the rural areas and goes to places like Stoke Climsland and Launceston. ?It was the second service of its type to be set up in Devon ? it?s an excellent service and the passenger numbers are up.? Cllr Martin Taylor said: ?The reason why the bus service is choc-a-bloc is because it?s flexible. ?They will identify that somebody in village A no longer needs to get the bus and someone else will say ?Mr So-and-So from village B needs transport? and before you know it the bus is there. It?s serving where the need is ? it?s excellent.? Cllr Norma Woodcock suggested the committee contact a group like the University of the Third Age. ?A lot of them have had administrative jobs and some are relatively young and willing to take on new things. There may be people that would say ?I could do that? ? and do it well,? said Cllr Woodcock. ?You are not asking anyone to start something up, you are asking them to take something successful on.? Giles Baigent has been the co-ordinator for the community bus for 20 years. He said the duties of co-ordinator were not onerous and took about half an hour in the morning and another half hour in the afternoon. ?It?s mainly to check the bus out in the morning, make sure it?s fuelled up and roadworthy, just a general series of checks, and make sure the driver turns up, then check it back into the depot in the afternoon,? said Mr Baigent, who said the co-ordinator did not need any particular skills. ?It?s not even necessary to be able to drive, though it would be handy in case the bus needed to be moved,? he said. Mr Baigent said the service was highly successful and carried out an incredible 10,000 passenger journeys a year. To celebrate its 25th birthday, those involved with Tavistock Community Bus are holding a cream tea party on Bedford Square on Wednesday September 27 between 2pm and 4pm. Mr Baigent said: ?It?s for all our regular customers, and everyone involved in the bus. It?s a chance for everyone to get together, particularly the drivers who often don?t meet each other, and for the passengers to meet the people behind the scenes.? The bus will bring passengers into Tavistock for the party and will remain parked in Bedford Square while the celebrations take place. All Tavistock Community Bus users are welcome to join the fun. Anyone who has a few hours to spare and would like to help this valuable service continue should call Giles Baigent on 01822 870433.