DRIVERS willing to help take people to and from hospital are being sought in the Ripon area.

The ambulance service has a shortage of drivers with its non-emergency patient transport service, which does about 750,000 journeys a year.

Volunteers use their own cars to provide a door-to-door service taking patients to and from day hospital, outpatient clinics and a variety of specialist treatment centres.

"We have about 150 volunteer drivers which the service would struggle to operate without," said manager Peter Smith.

"It is a rewarding and worthwhile job for anyone with a little time to spare and a genuine interest in the community."

Volunteers must be between 21 and 70, physically fit, own a four-door saloon that is less than seven years old and have held a full, clean driving licence for the past three years. Drivers receive a mileage rate of 31p per mile.

Application forms are available from the Human Resources Department, Ambulance HQ, Fairfields, Shipton Road, York, YO30 1 XW.