RURAL communities have been granted £425,000 for dial-a-ride buses to improve access to hospitals.

The Government grant to people living in the Stockton and Hartlepool areas comes days after a separate £730,000 grant was awarded to Stockton Borough Council to provide a hospital shuttle service.

It is hoped the latest money will enable housebound people or those living in remote areas to get to the University Hospital of North Tees, in Stockton, and the University Hospital of Hartlepool.

It will also help residents to get to their doctors' surgeries and other health facilities.

The buses will link with Durham's Demand Responsive Transport service with Durham County Council a partner in the scheme, called North Tees Health Links.

Stockton South MP Dari Taylor said money was given to 42 local authorities across the country.

She said: "Staff at the local authorities have worked extremely hard for all this and it has all paid off."

Councillor Bob Cook, Stockton Borough Council's cabinet member for regeneration, said: "The two partnership bids were designed to complement each other, so Stockton and our partners, Durham County and Hartlepool Borough councils, Stagecoach and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust, will now be providing greatly improved access to major hospitals."