Last month your reported that a car scheme had been given a boost following an appeal in the Free Press.

This of course was Wheels, which badly needed more volunteer drivers if it was to continue all of its present services.

It is commendable that such an appeal brought forth so many responses, so averting the crisis envisaged.

We in the villages know how vitally important such services are, particularly to the elderly and infirm who do not have their own transport.

At present, AtWest provide a vital link for rural areas needing to access Minehead, for instance, and I would point out that it is even more of a lifeline for us, situated as we are in places like Luxborough and Roadwater.

Here in Roadwater we are about two miles from a major bus route, and in Luxborough about four. Getting to places like Taunton can be a major problem for us.

The Slinky service only has two minibuses in operation on weekdays, so one has to be flexible about timings to access the major route operatives.

We appreciate all that AtWest do to keep us in contact with the “outside world”, and at present have two reliable and regular shopper buses a week to Minehead (Mondays and Fridays) which we aim to keep using to capacity.

This runs from Luxborough, through Roadwater and Old Cleeve, plus Cleeve Park. We can’t imagine what we would do without it.

Taxis to medical centres, dentists, not to mention chemists and ordinary shopping, would be the only alternative, which would make life extremely difficult. In any case, the social aspect of community travel is vital to the elderly.

Good luck to Wheels, and please wish us luck, too, that we can continue with what we have.

Mrs J Hand, Haymans Cottages, Roadwater.