HUNDREDS of disabled people will be helped by a vital service"s new bus.

Inverclyde Voluntary Council of Social Service now have 21 mini-buses which transport 400 people a day to training centres, nurseries, lunch clubs and leisure facilities.

The service has spent £25,000 on a new bus for its fleet.

Transport and running costs are being paid by Greenock"s Tontine and Lindores hotels, owned by Veronica and Joe Nellis.

They have given £600 to Joe Barlas, honorary president of the Voluntary Council, which started in 1977 and has running costs of £10,000 a month.

Mrs Nellis said: 'Joe and his 45 volunteer drivers and escorts do an amazing job. They are so dedicated.' Joe said: 'We are very grateful to Veronica and Joe for this valuable donation. It"s help like this that enables us to run what is the biggest organisation of its kind in Europe.' The service is provided free of charge every day of the week, with many of the trips being done in the evenings and weekends.

Mr Barlas said: 'We need volunteer drivers willing to give a minimum of three hours a week.

'There is no financial reward, but a great deal of satisfaction knowing that you have helped so many people.

'We also need more escorts and we would be delighted to hear from anyone over 25 who phones us on 791939.' One of the groups which uses the buses is Inverclyde Enable. It runs clubs for about 100 adults with learning disabilities, many of whom also have a physical disability.

Group secretary Leila Tarbet said: 'We meet twice a week in the evenings and rely very heavily on the voluntary council"s transport.'