A TRANSPORT charity which has been serving Shipston and the surrounding villages for more than two decades has taken delivery of a new bus.

Shipston Link’s latest acquisition, ‘No 2’ will enhance service reliability and develop its private hire service to community groups.

The brand new 17-seater Ford Transit will join a 17- seater Peugeot Boxer disability adapted minibus in offering cost-effective, ecofriendly services to those who do not or are no longer able to drive.

Shipston Link has now been operating for more than 25 years and provides bus services from many of the surrounding villages into Shipston town square and the Shipston Medical Centre most days of the week.

It also provides regular trips to Banbury, Moreton and Chipping Norton.

Chairman Malcolm Temple said the new bus was a major step forward and will add to the reliability of the service.

“It will also enable expansion of our private hire service which offers cost effective personal transport facilities to small community groups,” he said.

“We have already taken parties to the Memorial at Airewas, Highgrove, the American Museum at Bath and the Westonbirt Arboretum.”

The charity managed to get a big discount on the new £20,000 bus, with the rest of the money raised through surplus funds built up over the last few years.

Deputy mayor Philip Vial, who led the recent inauguration ceremony in the Market Square, said “The Shipston Link is an important part of our community and I am delighted to see this expansion.”

The Link is always seeking new volunteer drivers, with full training given. For details visit shipstonlink.

co.uk