A VOLUNTARY car scheme relied on by more than 250 elderly and housebound people has been saved from having to cut its services by the success of an appeal in the Free Press.

Wheels, the Watchet and Williton-based community car scheme which has provided a transport lifeline for the past 12 years, reported last month that a shortage of drivers had reached the point where requests for lifts were being turned down.

Wheels chairman Michael Freeman told an emergency meeting of the group: “This is something we hoped we would never have to do.

“We are desperate for new drivers and trip organisers and the pressure we are under is putting the whole service under threat.”

But Michael said this week that only days after the group’s plight appeared in the Free Press, the immediate crisis was over.

“We have never had such a response before from people offering their services as drivers and we should be back up to full strength very soon,” he said.

Now Michael is appealing for at least two more co-ordinators to join the five now organising the service. They work from home by phone and are on a rota every few weeks.

“The more co-ordinators and drivers we have, the less often they need to offer their services,” he said.