MALVERN'S Citizens' Advice Bureau has welcomed the findings of a new report on rural transport.

Rural Transport Futures highlights shortcomings in the service in the UK and examines possible solutions from Europe.

These include door-to-door transport, shared taxi-buses and co-ordinated bus and train timetables.

The report is the work of Transport 2000, the Countryside Agency and Citizens' Advice nationally.

Liz Pusey, CAB manager in Malvern, said the group had personal experience of problems locally.

"Many of our clients have difficulties in accessing education, jobs, health services or end up in debt if they have to run a car which they cannot afford," she said.

She highlighted the case of a man with mental health problems who was unable to make the eight-mile trip to collect his benefit and another of a widow spending a disproportionate amount of her income shopping at a local garage because there was no bus service to her nearest town.

In order to help people access its services, the bureau runs outreach sessions in areas like Upton-upon-Severn and Knightwick.