A CHARITY venture which helps provide community transport for elderly, rural and socially isolated people in West Somerset celebrated its 10th anniversary in style this week.

When Accessible Transport West (ATWEST) launched a decade ago they had three rusty buses and around 400 passengers; ten years on they have 18 shiny buses and cater for 3,500 passengers, nearly 10% of West Somerset's population.

The anniversary bash took place on Tuesday, August 11 at their site on Brunel Way in Minehead for staff and long term customers with music provided by local jazz band The Darktown Strutters.

Two special buses were put on for the event: the 1000 year bus, carrying passengers whose ages added up to 1000 years and the Millionth Mile bus, which brought in passengers registered since 2005 to celebrate the distance driven by ATWEST's vehicles.

Brian Worrall, ATWEST general manager, said: "It has been hard work but aided by lovely passengers and devoted staff we have combated the recession, local bus cuts, some terrible weather and all kinds of diversities which have combined to make the company stronger."

The ATWEST buses have a 50% non-statutory concessionary fare to help passengers afford to travel and offers a multitude of services including

nine shopping routes, travel clubs for days out, a Moor Rover to help people explore Exmoor, and a car scheme for people who need to go to hospitals, airports etc.

A spokesman for ATWEST said: "We aim to reduce rural and social isolation - for some, we are the only people who knock on their door - and we enable vulnerable people to live a normal and healthy lifestyle."