ELDERLY residents gathered for a spot of cake and afternoon tea to toast the arrival of their new community bus.

The Colden Common Community Care Group welcomed the 16-seater Citroen, which was specially modified in Tiverton, following months of fund-raising across the village.

School children, parish hall trust committees and Winchester Rotary all contributed to the £41,000 bus which will help the club members get around town.

The Trust was set up in 1982 to help those in need within the community with a weekly lunch club and transportation.

It is now used by the village’s Friendship Club, Rainbow playgroup and primary school.

Chairman Jenny Gray said: “Thank you to all those who supported financially in various ways. We have also had anonymous donations from the villagers which has been wonderful. Our treasurers have been very good and kept a very careful eye on what has been going in and out of the accounts so, thankfully, we didn’t have to start from scratch.

“If anybody is interested we do need volunteers,” she added.