A NEW service to help elderly and vulnerable people in Stockbridge started this week.

As part of the Hampshire Voluntary Care Groups Advice Service, residents are rallying round to ensure "those who have a need" can get to hospitals for appointments, collect prescriptions and do their shopping.

Stockbridge Neighbour Care organiser Roger Tym, said he had heard a Stockbridge householder recently spent £60 on a taxi to take him to Salisbury District Hospital. "That's a huge chunk out of some peoples' income," he said.

"One day last year I had made two trips into Winchester for an old lady to see her husband in hospital and another trip to Andover for an elderly man to see his wife and I thought to myself, this is getting ridiculous'. There is obviously a need for a service like this."

Mr Tym said they would not act as a taxi service for people who can afford taxis but explained they were happy to provide transport for people who had a "real need for access to health facilities."

Some Stockbridge residents have spent more than half a day trying to get to hospital appointments in Southampton, aid Mr Tym They get on a bus from the village to Winchester and then change onto a train to get to Southampton before having to get onto another bus to the hospital and then trying to find where they should be once they get there.

Anyone hoping to learn more about the service in Stockbridge should call 0845 0943713.