PEOPLE with mobility problems in County Durham's urban areas are to share a travel scheme which has been running in the countryside for more than five years.

About 2,000 people in rural communities already use Durham County Council's Access bus service.

But from next week it is to be extended to take people from Durham City and Newton Aycliffe to popular shopping centres.

The Access bus, funded by the Department of Transport Rural Bus Challenge and the county council, is aimed at people who have difficulty using public transport.

The low floor, accessible bus collects passengers from their homes and takes them to shopping centres in Durham City, Washington, Chester-le-Street, Sunderland, Darlington and Richmond.

Steve Lockwood, the county's rural and community transport officer, said: "The Access bus has been extremely popular over the past five years with people living in rural areas and we expect many more people from the two urban centres to use it."

"The new service 16 and 17 will help even more people to enjoy visiting major centres and are another positive step in the county council's aim to combat social exclusion," he said.

Service 16 will operate on Mondays from Monday, picking up from Belmont, Carrville, Gilesgate, Sherburn Road, Durham City, Framwellgate Moor, Pity Me, Nevilles Cross and Newton Hall.

It will go to the Galleries in Washington, Sunderland, Chester-le-Street and the Arnison and Prince Bishops centres in Durham City.

Service 17 will also operate on Mondays, starting on Monday, picking up from Newton Aycliffe, Aycliffe Village, Middridge and calling at Darlington, Bishop Auckland, Richmond and the Arnison and Prince Bishop Centres.

The Access bus is a membership scheme. There is a nominal joining fee and a small charge for each journey.

The only qualification to join the scheme is for passengers to have a genuine mobility problem.

Anyone wanting to check if they are eligible is asked to contact Karen Muse on 0191-386 7148.