DEDICATED volunteer workers finally saw all their hard work pay off when a new charity minibus took to the road this week.

Workers at the SCAD (Skipton and Craven Action for Disability) store on Newmarket Street, Skipton, have been collecting for more than a year to help pay for the £33,000 bus.

Other money has come from donations by groups and individuals, money given in lieu of flowers at funerals, coffee mornings and donations from people who borrow SCAD wheelchairs.

This bus, along with the other two older ones, will be used to take SCAD members to appointments, and on shopping and day trips.

Chairman of the charity Edna Birtwhistle said the 11 seater bus would be an excellent addition for the group.

She added that it was more modern than the others. "It has power steering, the lift is easier to operate and the windows are easier to see out of," she said.

Chairman of Craven District Council Coun Peter Walbank launched the bus at a short ceremony outside the town hall on Tuesday.

And last week members of SCAD were presented with a new wheelchair, worth £400, from Dalesway Mobility.

Staff at the Skipton company were so shocked by the state of a battered old wheelchair brought in for repairs by members of SCAD that they donated a new one.

Staff decided that such a worthy charity should have more modern equipment.

SCAD has around a dozen wheelchairs which can be used free of charge by the general public, including people who have just come out of hospital.

Robert Jenkins, SCAD's vice chairman said: "This is a welcome addition to our supply of wheelchairs. Any donations will increase the value of our service to the disabled."

The move has also sparked a new campaign by Dalesway Mobility, to set up a service lending out not only wheelchairs, but also scooters, free of charge to the public.

Phillip Greaves, owner of Dalesway Mobility, said: "We have had a considerable amount of queries about whether we loan out scooters. We plan to administer the new scheme from our premises, but obviously we can't fund it."

Therefore, Mr Greaves is inviting local businesses to sponsor the scheme. He stresses that because of the town's historical features there are a large amount of steps and access is very difficult for the disabled. He says he is determined to do anything he can to help.

Although the scheme is only in its initial stages, Mr Greaves would like to hear from any local business which wants to be involved. He can be contacted on 01756 709777.