A lifeline community Lanarkshire transport service has been given a £10,000 cash boost thanks to the National Lottery.
East Kilbride Community Transport (EKCT) was delighted to secure the funding which will help keep the much-needed organisation on the road.
And having recently appealed through Lanarkshire Live for new volunteer committee members due to dwindling numbers, their plea was also answered.
EKCT helps get a number of local groups - including the elderly and disabled - to weekly meetings and events but can also be booked for outings, all at a significantly reduced cost.
The service currently runs two buses and had previously hoped to purchase a third bus - applying to the Lottery for a contribution towards this.
But with them being unable to raise sufficient funds, they had thought the £10,000 they had applied for would no longer be available.
June Harpum, secretary/administrator for East Kilbride Community Transport, told Lanarkshire Live: "We had previously hoped to possibly get a third bus.
"But the cost of at least £34,000 - as it has to be wheelchair accessible - was just too much for us to raise.
"The Lottery had said we could get £10,000 if the rest could be raised, so we pretty much thought that was that.
"Then out of the blue we were contacted by them and they asked for a breakdown of what the £10,000 would be used for and we were delighted to be told we would get the £10,000 after all.
"This will ensure that we can maintain the buses and help to pay the drivers.
"Also, after we put out an appeal, we have seven people willing to become committee volunteers and they are going to attend our forthcoming AGM.
"We are so relieved that we will be able to keep going. So many people rely on us and it would be awful if we weren't here to help.
"We supply a much-needed service to the whole community of East Kilbride by taking disabled, elderly and vulnerable to church and back. For some folk, it's the only time of they week they get out and mix with others.
"And we also collect children from schools and take them to their after-school care, we take groups such as stroke club, arthritis care, visually impaired to their meetings and return them home and schoolchildren to various sports centres or pitches and return."
Other groups who use EKCT buses are walking groups, pensioners, a pipe band, Scouts and Guides and care homes.
EKCT began life nearly 40 years ago and t he service was previously saved from the brink several years ago when its lynchpin of more than 30 years - Ina Cumming - decided to step down.
Its next AGM will be held on Tuesday, November 8, in Greenhills Library at 7pm.
For more information on how to use the service or to volunteer email ekct2019@gmail.com or go to their Facebook page.
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