A “LIFELINE” service for Waverley residents without transport has been awarded a grant of £108,000 for 2018/19 by Waverley Borough Council, and similar levels of support are expected for 2019/20 and 2020/21.

Hoppa, which has a fleet of 30 buses, will pick customers up from their front door and take them to a pre-arranged destination.

On the return journey, the driver sees passengers safely to their door and carries their shopping bags too.

General manager Steve Forward said: “The dial-a-ride service puts an end to passengers having to endure the elements as they wait at the bus stop for their bus to arrive.

“This, and our high level of personal service, makes Hoppa the first choice of travel for many of our customers who are mainly older or more vulnerable members of our community.

“We know from feedback that, for many, the only time they get to go out and interact with others is when they take their weekly trip to the supermarket.

“Hoppa is about so much more than transporting people from A to B, it’s helping to keep people independent for longer which is very important to our customers, especially for those who are rurally isolated.”

Around 19 per cent of Hoppa’s income comes from grants. It has a service level agreement with Waverley, which provides 66 per cent of its grant income.