WITH this being the season of goodwill and giving, the Okehampton and District Community Transport Group is on the hunt for more volunteer drivers.

The group is looking for a car driver to help with covering journeys in their two wheelchair accessible vehicles. Both of these vehicles can be driven with a normal driving licence, including the eight seater Peugeot owned by the group.

The group is also on the lookout for a driver in the North Tawton area, and is always happy to welcome new drivers in the Okehampton area.

The group is a community-led scheme supported by Devon County Council and West Devon Borough Council to provide transport for the local rural community and for people who find it physically difficult to use conventional public transport, the frail elderly, and those who are rurally isolated.

The group provides transport to hospital and medical appointments, and social visits. As well as the bus they offer a community car service and a ring and ride service, with specialised wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

Sue Wonnacott, transport group co-ordinator, said: 'We are always looking for new volunteer drivers, and welcome any support people can give us.

'At the moment, we particularly could use a new driver for our wheelchair accessible vehicles.

'Our current drivers of those vehicles are so busy, we could use another.

'We would fully train any volunteers on how to use the wheelchair mechanisms in the vehicles.

'We can always use new drivers in Okehampton itself, which is our busiest area, though we welcome volunteers from anywhere in the area.

'We are very busy at the moment, but our volunteers are so fantastic that we thankfully don't have to turn too many people away.'

The transport group pays their drivers 45p per mile and also indemnifies your no claims bonus and policy excess.

Volunteers can spare as much time as they like, from a couple of hours a month upward.

Drivers with relevant experience can also volunteer to drive the wheelchair accessible vehicle on trips.

To find out more about the transport group, visit http://www.odctg.co.uk">www.odctg.co.uk or call the transport group on 01837 55000. If you call between December 23 and January 5, please leave a message as the office will be closed for Christmas.