TRIP Community Transport Association makes and appeal.

A DESPERATE shortage of voluntary drivers has led TRIP Community Transport to let clients down.

The charity’s manager, Neil Hurlock, has told the Midweek Herald that the service had no drivers covering Lyme Regis last week and that there would only be one available this week.

“We are getting desperately short of drivers covering the Lyme Regis area,” he said.

“This is partly due to holidays, partly due to people getting jobs and partly due to people having health problems.

“We could always do with more drivers for the Honiton and Seaton service as well.”

Devon County Council gives �780 a year towards the voluntary driver schemes in Honiton and Seaton, but Dorset County Council offers no funding for the service covering Lyme Regis.

Mr Hurlock added: “This week we are down to one Lyme-based driver, who only can cover a couple of days. We may be able to get one of our Seaton drivers to cover some of the trips, but we are a bit short there as well, plus it costs us money to send a driver over as we don’t charge the passengers any extra.”

If you would like to be a voluntary driver for TRIP, you can find out more by calling (01404) 46529.