IT’S been a lifeline to a far-flung rural community – and never more so than during the current Covid-19 crisis. But sadly, the car used by volunteer drivers to deliver medical prescriptions to the frail and elderly from Dulverton medical centre was reaching the end of the road.

Now, thanks to the generosity of local people, businesses, councils and community groups, volunteer drivers have taken delivery of a tough new £15,000 delivery vehicle, which is just what the doctor ordered.

Lindsay Smith, practice manager at Dulverton’s Exmoor Medical Centre, said: “Our volunteer prescription delivery drivers deliver medications to the surrounding villages five days a week, completely free of charge.

“This service is invaluable to many of our patients and has proved even more so during the Covid-19 pandemic during which we continued to deliver daily with a much-reduced band of volunteers.

“In order to provide this service, the surgery has a car which has always been funded by donations from the public and run and maintained by the practice itself.

“Last year, we began a local appeal for donations toward buying a new, more robust, vehicle for this vital service.

“We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the generosity from local business, parish councils and community groups but the vast volume of the money we have raised has come from personal donations by patients and carers who clearly value this service highly.

“In total, we have raised in excess of £15,000 and have now taken delivery of our new vehicle – a Honda CRV from Stanbury’s garage in Dulverton.”