CASH from Shildon Football Club's FA Cup run has helped give the town's community groups a new set of wheels.
The club is one of the sponsors of a £37,000 new community minibus, which was given an official launch last week.
The Shildon team was given £7,000 to hand over to charity by the Football Association, following its appearance in the first round proper of this season's FA Cup.
Other contributors to the minibus appeal include Help the Aged and the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, as well as up to 30 affiliated community groups.
Shildon has had community transport since it was given a second-hand bus 12 years ago. For the next six months the new bus will run alongside its predecessor.
Flo McCall, acting secretary for the management committee which runs the transport project, said: "We have 25 to 30 community groups and organisations who rely on the bus for transport.
"For some people who are housebound or elderly, it is their only means of getting out socially.
"We are keeping the old bus on the road to see if it is economically viable to run two. We know we cannot meet demand with just one."
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