HOPES of securing a dial-a-ride service for Upton-upon-Severn have been revived after the original plan ran into difficulties over funding.

A pilot scheme could begin in the new year if the latest plans get off the ground.

The idea is for Malvern Community Action to run the service if a minimum of £28,000 can be raised jointly by Malvern Hills Rural Transport Partnership, Worcestershire County Council and Malvern Hills District Council to buy a minibus and cover the first year's running costs.

The minibus would have easy entry, plus a wheelchair lift and hoist, providing a door-to-door service for people in rural areas who are unable to use public transport.

Upton already has a successful Community Care transport scheme, with a band of volunteer car drivers who make 1,000 journeys a year, taking elderly and infirm people to day centres and GP or hospital appointments.

"We're very busy with medical appointments, but when people are housebound they also need transport for social purposes, such as going shopping and that's where Dial-a-Ride could help," said Eleanor Grigson, of Upton Community Care.

Successful schemes in Hereford, Malvern and Ross-on-Wye are run by the Plynlimmon Trust, but the Trust lost its chief source of funding with the cancellation of the annual River Wye Raft Race this year because of foot-and-mouth disease.

As a result the Ross-on-Wye service, costing £24,500 annually and making 7,000 passenger trips a year, is closing and the Trust is unable to back a new service in Upton without proper funding in place.

"Now it looks as if we've pulled together a new funding package and could soon see a pilot scheme in operation," said Grenville Sheringham, of Malvern Hills Rural Transport Partnership.

"We're currently negotiating with Malvern Community Action, who are keen to run the service. They know from their own contacts that there is a need for it.

"We're hoping to run a pilot scheme within the next couple of months, using their minibus.

"We could be ready to start a formal Dial-a-Ride service in six months' time, after we have employed someone to take calls and set up a booking system."

The service would probably operate within a 10 mile radius of Upton, and would be available to registered members, who must be disabled or disadvantaged and would have to give 24 hours' notice of needing transport.