A CHARITY bus service run for relatives of hospital patients could be under threat because of a shortage of drivers.

For 40 years the League of Friends of Weymouth and Portland Hospitals has organised a free bus service for people who want to visit a relative at Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester.

But the organisation now has only three volunteer drivers and charity bosses fear they may have to stop the service unless more drivers can be found.

Charity chairman Chris Dursley said the organisation was 'very short of drivers' after three people had to give up their voluntary work.

He said: "The service is almost certainly under threat if we are not able to get volunteers to drive the bus.

"Three of our drivers had to stop because they reached 70 and our insurance policy states that our drivers must be under that age.

"And two of our present volunteers also drive buses for other organisations and are not always free to help run our service."

He added the bus is used by around 40 people a week and is a valued community service.

Mr Dursley, 73, has been chairman of the charity, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in December, for 10 years and a member of the charity for 14 years.

He said: "For some people it is their only way of getting up to the hospital to visit their relatives.

"But to keep the service running we would ideally like another three drivers with another two who could be standby drivers.

"If anyone thinks that they would be able to help we would urge them to please let us know as we are very keen to keep the service going.

"You do not need a PSV licence, a clean drivers' licence will be fine and it would be just for one afternoon a week or fortnight, or any time you can give."

The bus runs relatives up to Dorset County Hospital every Saturday and Wednesday and leaves from Easton Square, Portland, at 1.30pm via Westham Road, Weymouth, at 2pm.

And on Friday afternoons the bus also takes people out for the day to beauty spots across the county from the Blackdown Mental Health Clinic in Weymouth.

If anyone is interested in becoming a volunteer bus driver they should contact Mr Dursley on (01305) 833658.