A NEW minibus is setting Wear Valley and Teesdale communities on the road to healthier lifestyles.

The minibus is being operated by the Durham Dales Healthy Living Partnership and was launched by Andrew Kenworthy, chief executive of the Durham Dales Primary Care Trust, in Bishop Auckland last week.

It is being funded by £92,000 from the Big Lottery Fund and Durham County Council, which pays for the running costs of the bus, the expenses of volunteer drivers and a co-ordinator for the drivers.

Frieda Diplock, of the trust, said: "This initiative will enable more local communities, especially those in our isolated rural areas, to access a wider range of health-improving opportunities.

"The scheme is very much a part of the Durham Dales Healthy Living Partnership - which works with a wide range of groups to develop healthy lifestyles in Teesdale and Wear Valley.

"When the partners are not using the minibus, it will be available to the wider community and we would encourage people to volunteer to drive for the scheme."

The first group to use the bus were young carers who visited Killhope, the North of England Lead Mining Museum in Weardale.