Leighton's Buzzer Bus fleet has increased to seven with the arrival of two new minibuses especially-adapted for the elderly and infirm.

The new environmentallly-friendly Renault buses were bought by Beds County Council using part of £1 million of Government funding to improve transport in the south of the town and handed over to the service by the authority's cabinet member for highways and transport, Cllr Tom Wootton, on Wednesday.

"It is so important for those who can't use regular means of public transport to have easy access to local amenities," said Cllr Wootton.

"The Buzzer Bus provides just this.

"It is a door-to-door service, which is safe and reliable and with these two new buses we hope that users will feel comfortable when travelling in and around Leighton Buzzard.

"The Buzzer Bus service is currently used by almost 2,000 local people and last year completed over 29,000 journeys.

"I really hope the service will continue for many years as it is a real lifeline for many people."

Buzzer Buses offers dial-a-ride services for the disabled, incapacitated and elderly in the Leighton-Linslade and in Beds and Bucks villages in a 5-mile radius.

Among passengers at the hand-over were multiple sclerosois sufferer Sandra Finchan of Poplar Close, and 85-year-old Hilda Morris of Richmond Road who use the service regularly and say they would find it difficult to get around without the Buzzer.

"It's great, I can go where I want, when I want and do what I want to do because of the Buzzer Bus," said Sandra.

Hilda uses the bus to visit her husband in a local nursing home.

"It's very important to me," she said.

The service operates from 8.30am to 5pm on weekdays and the New Road, Linslade offices are open for bookings between 10am to 4pm, telephone (01525) 853566.

The buses are garaged at Taylor Woodrow of Stanbridge Road, Leighton, and general manager Joan Combes thanks the company for their continued generosity.