For the past 18 months retired widower Ted Jarvis, of Edinburgh Drive, has got behind the wheel of his Toyota Yaris to ferry around St Ives residents who would otherwise be housebound.

Despite having a bad left leg, which meant changing to an automatic car, Ted is a dedicated member of the Huntingdonshire Volunteer Bureaux car scheme.

With four programmes based in Huntingdon, St Neots, St Ives and Ramsey, the scheme offers free transport to residents with mobility problems and is in urgent need of more drivers to make trips to Hinchingbrooke Hospital.

Ted, who worked at RAF Wyton, joined the service after seeing it advertised in St Ives library and since joining has driven 50 people, some who are regulars.

He said: "I love it. It's meeting different people and helping different people who can't help themselves. It's given me great pleasure and a reason for living really.

"I will keep doing this as long as the bureaux needs me, as long as I am fit and healthy and as long as I don't lose my licence for being too old."

One of the people Ted drives is 84-year-old Ida Staples of Homefarm Road, Houghton, who says she would be completely housebound without the service Ted provides.

Ida, who is awaiting a hip replacement, is always taken to Hinchingbrooke through the car scheme, and explained it's better than a taxi because the drivers talk to and help their passengers.
She added: "I can get to the hospital and I don't need to stand around and wait for a bus. And if I do my shopping, they help with the packing and bring it in the house for you.

Drivers need their own vehicles, but do receive a mileage allowance from Cambridgeshire County Council and additional insurance cover is also provided through the scheme.

Huntingdonshire Volunteer Bureaux manager Penny Shaw said: "We need more volunteers to come forward and offer their time, even if it is one or two hours a week, so we can meet the potential demand."

>> If you are interested in volunteer driving, or would like to know more about the schemes, please call:
Huntingdon Volunteer Bureau on 01480 414766
Ramsey, Warboys and District Volunteer Centre on 01487 814117 or 823476
St Ives Volunteer Bureau on 01480 301462
St Neots Volunteer Bureau on 01480 476047.