A VITAL charity bus service which means elderly or disabled residents can take regular shopping trips has been given a £1,000 boost.

The donation from Skipton Building Society’s Charitable Foundation means that Ilkley Community Transport can continue running a service which provides transport for older Addingham residents who due to disability or age find it difficult or impossible to use public bus services.

The charity collects people from home, takes them to a supermarket in Ilkley and then, on return, carries their shopping into the house for them. The funding will enable the service to be sustained for one year.

This is just one aspect of the charity’s work with other services including day trips to the Yorkshire and Lancashire coasts, the Lake District and neighbouring counties, holiday transport for people with disabilities and regular transport for three luncheon clubs for the elderly.

John Jewitt, Ilkley Community Transport chairman, said: “We are a registered charity that exists to provide safe, reliable transport for residents in Ilkley, Addingham, Burley and Menston. We are extremely grateful for the donation from Skipton Building Society’s Charitable Foundation which will go towards the service which allows elderly people in Addingham to get out and do their shopping.”