POTENTIAL users of a new disabled transport service are being urged to join an independent panel of advisors.

Gordon Pybus, of Darlington Association on Disability, hopes the panel will become a useful tool in the development of Ring-a-Ride, the replacement to Dial-a-Ride, which announced its closure last week.

Darlington Borough Council and the Darlington and District Youth and Community Association (DDYCA), have teamed up to provide the replacement service.

Ring-a-Ride, the new service, will cover the same hours as its predecessor, to give users an element of consistency. It will be launched on Monday, March 18.

Ring-a-Ride will be open from 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, but users will also be able to use the scheme at weekends by arrangement.

The previous service, called Dial-a-Ride, closed after a reduction in donations from £13,000 in 2000 to £4,000 last year and the charity contacted the council for help.

But when its auditors checked the accounts, it recommended investigation by the Charities Commission and informed police.

Mr Pybus can be contacted on (01325) 489999.