New 'ring and ride' bus service for West Dorset
A "ring and ride" bus service in West Dorset has been extended following a council grant of £60,000.
The package includes a new bus to pick passengers up from their homes on request and takes them to places including Bridport and Weymouth.
All return journeys cost £4 and are for use by the elderly, disabled, parents with young children and those living miles from normal bus routes.
The West Dorset council funds will see the buses run for the next two years.
Councillor Robert Gould, council leader, said: "This is an excellent service.
"It means that people living in isolated rural areas where there is no public transport can get out and about to do their shopping, meet friends or just have a day out."
The service will now operate from the following villages: Askerswell, Hooke, Loders, Mapperton, Powerstock, North Poorton, Burton Bradstock, Chilcombe, Litton Cheney, Puncknowle, Shipton Gorge and Swyre.
The "ring and ride" service, which is run by a charity, already runs in other parts of West Dorset including Charmouth, Chideock and Lyme Regis.