A SHORTAGE of drivers is threatening the long-term future of a Hampshire voluntary patient transport scheme.

And if more drivers are not found soon it could lead to the service which covers Romsey and a couple of nearby villages being reduced.

Bosses at Romsey Good Neighbours are appealing for more volunteers in a bid to ensure the service, which provides the elderly, infirm and disabled with transport for hospital, dental, eye and GP appointments.

This includes the parishes of Romsey, Romsey Extra, Braishfield and Ampfield.

Appealing for people to come forward and volunteer to become drivers, Greg Layton, from the charity said: “We did have 50 drivers but we are now down 37 and another four will probably be going next year. We need more and urgently.

"We’ve also lost two of the six co-ordinators that we had. It is essential to get more volunteers if the service is to continue.

"We are already getting to the point where we are having to turn clients away because we haven’t got the drivers.”

Romsey Good Neighbours is a charity which started 33 years ago and the service is very popular with its clients who are escorted by staff during hospital and other medical appointments.

Mr Layton added: “We provide an escort for them, chat to them to help them relax and take their minds off whatever they are going to hospital for and bring them home after their appointment.

"It’s not just a transport service. We’ve got around 800 clients on our books and the number is increasing all the time as more and more people move into the area with more homes being built,” said Mr Layton.

He added that volunteers are welcome from any age groups providing they have a driving licence and their own private car.

“But it would be better if the volunteers were retired because they have more time on their hands and would more likely be available when needed,”said Mr Layton who is a volunteer driver himself.

He also pointed out that the service covers hospital appointments in Romsey, Southampton, Basingstoke and even Bournemouth and Portsmouth.

Mr Layton added: “Drivers are reimbursed for any fuel cost they incur when taking clients to appointments.”

On average Romsey Good Neighbours which relies on donations from supporters, fares and a grant from Test Valley Borough Council to run the service, carries out more than 4,000 client appointments annually.