A BUS service has been launched to help people living in isolated rural communities.

The Community Lynx service is funded through the Government's Rural Bus Challenge scheme and operated jointly by Hartlepool Borough Council and Stockton Borough Council.

There are two minibus-style vehicles - one for each council area - and they can be used by anyone living in the following communities: Cassop, Dalton Piercy, Egglescliffe, Elton, Elwick, Fishburn, Hilton, Hutton Henry, Kirklevington, Longnewton, Low Worsall, Mordon, Sheraton, Shotton East, Station Town, Stillington, Thornley, Thorpe Larches, Trimdon, Trimdon Colliery, Trimdon Grange, Wheatley Hill, Wingate, Wolviston and Wynyard.

Priority will be given to people needing to access health services, although the buses can also be used to go shopping or visit leisure facilities.

Both buses are low-floor and fully wheelchair accessible, making it easier to travel for people with mobility problems or passengers with buggies and shopping trolleys.

Councillor Victor Tumilty, Hartlepool council's transportation portfolio holder, said: "Residents in a lot of rural communities do not have access to the normal scheduled bus services that most of us take for granted, and even where they do, some people are unable to use them.

"Community Lynx is a door-to-door service that is specifically designed to tackle the isolation that residents of such communities can inevitably experience."

The service operates from 9am to 9pm, Monday to Friday, and from 3pm to 9pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

There is a charge of £1.50 per journey where the journey is within one town boundary, or £2 where the journey crosses town boundaries.

Journeys in the Hartlepool area can be booked Monday to Friday, from 8am to 4.30pm, giving at least 24 hours' notice, by calling 01429-523855. Weekend trips must be booked Monday to Friday.

Journeys in the Stockton area can be booked Monday to Friday, between 11am and 1pm, again giving at least 24 hours' notice. Weekend journeys must be booked on a Friday. Call 01642-527159.

Anyone wishing to use the service must become a member. They can do this by calling either of the above numbers and requesting an application form, or by completing an application form on board the bus during their first journey.