A community transport service has got around 50 people to their COVID-19 vaccine appointments , thanks to the help of volunteers.

North Herts & Stevenage Community Transport service, based in Letchworth, is taking bookings to help get those who are elderly and less-mobile to their appointments.

The service is managed by the charity North Herts & Stevenage CVS.

During last year's lockdown, the transport scheme also started picking up and dropping off prescriptions to those who were shielding or unable to get out.

Community transport manager Jon Brown told the Comet: "As a charity we are continuing to provide our services which have been so vital.

"We are here to help with taking people to their vaccines .We take local residents across North Herts and Stevenage to their health and medical appointments, but we've also been here to help people get to their various social clubs and day centres."

Charities have been hit hard by the pandemic, as many rely on fundraising and donations to carry out their work.

"We usually average around 6,000 bookings a year, and we had about half of that in 2020, however it was a remarkable year and we achieved so much as a service," Jon continued.

"We have about 70 volunteer drivers, but quite a few have stepped down for the time being, due to the pandemic.

"We want to grow as a service and achieve even more, and help more people. We're an ambitious service and we want to do more for the community.

"We're always looking for new volunteer drivers to join our special service. Do get in touch - it's such a flexible and rewarding role"

"There's a lot of people who don't know about the service, who are struggling."

The community transport service charges just 45p per mile, as volunteers use their own cars to pick people up to take them to their appointments and home again.

The service has full COVID-19 safety regulations and guidance in place to ensure service users and the drivers are as safe as possible during the journeys

If you require the North Herts and Stevenage Community Transport service, call 01462 689402 between 9am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.