A COUNCILLOR has called for more volunteers to help run a village taxi service for people left at risk of isolation due to bus cuts.

The village of Heighington, near Darlington, will lose the number 16 bus service at the end of the year after council subsidies come to an end, cutting off a vital link to doctors surgeries and shops in Newton Aycliffe.

Coun Gerald Lee, ward member for Heighington, said that because only a small number of people would be affected by the loss of the service he could not make a bid for funding to set up a community service.

Instead, the village has decided to come up with its own list of volunteer drivers who are prepared to offer lifts for residents, mostly elderly, who are likely to be cut off once the bus ends.

Coun Lee said: “We’ve already had a number of people who have come forward, but we always need more volunteers, a good mix of men and women who are available at different times of day.

“We are hopeful it will work. The idea is to distribute the list of phone numbers around the residents who might use the service who will then be able to call someone who is available at the time they need.

“I would encourage people to sign up and help those who need it.”