COMMUNITY transport workers in Yate have lent a helping hand to elderly people who have been forced to stay indoors during the freezing weather.

Instead of picking pensioners up to go shopping, drivers for Yate and District Community Transport have been delivering essential groceries to those stuck inside their own homes.

Volunteers and paid drivers have been doing extra rounds and gone out of their way to make sure vulnerable people have enough food during the wintry weather.

Manager of the scheme based at North Road, Bev Leworthy, said: "A lot of people have cancelled their trip with us because they don’t want to go out. But we know they are in turmoil because they need supplies.

"We have seen some people in distress so we have offered to pick up essentials and deliver them. All the people we have helped have been over the moon."

The transport scheme, which usually offers a ring and ride service for pensioners and people with mobility problems, had its school contracts cancelled last Wednesday and Thursday as all schools in South Gloucestershire closed because of the snow. That meant drivers had more time to pick up shopping for stranded passengers.

Bev said the most popular items people were asking for was bread, milk and tins of soup.

She said: "Some people have still gone out on the ring and ride service but we can’t drive on icy roads so if their street is particularly icy we have been phoning passengers from our mobiles and waiting for them down the end of their road.

"People feel quite safe with us but the problems start when they get off the bus. Many of our passengers are unsteady on their feet and they certainly can’t carry shopping as well.

"These people are suffering much more hardship than most and we are endeavouring to help them. During the snowy weather everyone has been helping eachother out and being a bit more neighbourly."

Anyone who requires help with their shopping during the cold weather should call Yate and District Community Transport on 0845 2410985 or 01454 228706.