A SELFLESS volunteer who runs a vital community minibus service in Bournemouth has issued a plea for help to keep it going.

Peter Fletcher runs Bournemouth and West Howe Tours, a community minibus that provides transport to clubs and trips out for the elderly, disabled and families in the West Howe area.

Peter, who is 77 himself, has been involved in running the bus for 14 years, but it is now in need of repairs to keep it on the road, which he cannot afford on his own.

He is also looking for help with running costs such as the MOT, tax and insurance.

Peter said: “When my first wife died I got asked to help out with a travel club and I did that for 10 years.

“When my colleague at the time was taken very ill I was asked to carry on with it, which is what I’ve done.

“I had an old minibus, which cost £2,000, and I said that if I could pick up elderly people and take them to clubs and things like that I would do.”

Peter currently receives help from a handful of community organisations of around £120 a week, but it is not enough to keep the bus going.

He added: “A lot of the money I’ve actually paid out of my own pocket.

“I’m not asking for a new minibus, it’s just help towards the cost of repairs that I need doing and helping me to pay for things like the MOT, insurance, tax and everything else.

“The reason I do it is because I enjoy doing it and it’s helping out a lot of people.

“I’ll do it as long as I can because I have got people that get disappointed if I can’t pick them up.

“I can’t drive myself but I’ve got two volunteer drivers.”

Anyone who can help should contact Peter on 01202 593482 or 07546 378880.