RYEDALE Community Transport (RCT) has bought a new minibus following a substantial donation from the Wilf Jackson Trust.

The trust was set up by former builder Wilf Jackson to give help and assistance to families and individuals in and around the Malton and Norton area, who are in need of assistance by reason of poverty, age, illness, infirmity or accident.

Steve Mellalieu, manager of RCT, said that the substantial donation had enabled them to invest in the new bus at a time of growing demand for its services.

RCT is a registered charity whose aim is to provide transport options for Ryedale residents who have no other means of travelling, by offering affordable journeys for groups and individuals.

The new bus will allow RCT to cater better for the ever-growing number of groups, charities and individuals requiring transport to and from meetings and activities, often with wheelchair access being essential.

Steve said: “RCT’s task is to provide affordable transport across Ryedale tailored to the needs of groups and individuals.

“We do this by using our own fleet of minibuses and drivers and also through the sterling efforts of our 50 or so volunteer car drivers.

"The buses are our mainstay for group transport and we need to ensure our fleet is big enough to meet the high demand from our communities throughout Ryedale. This welcome addition to the fleet will help us to continue doing that.”