PROPOSALS to provide a dial-a-ride taxi service to take youngsters from Pershore into Worcester are to be reconsidered.

A pilot scheme was due to have been launched within the next few weeks but Wychavon councillors have now decided to look at the whole project again.

And it is likely to be the end of March 2006 before a final decision is made.

A council statement this week announced executive board approval for a 'small-scale pilot scheme' for people travelling from Pershore to Worcester on Fridays and Saturdays.

But Audrey Steel, board member for rural matters, said the details were still to be finalised.

"At this stage of the proceedings it is all going back to scrutiny," she said.

"We won't know any details until the end of March when a report will be published.

"We're not sure what form the scheme will take. The public transport gaps have been an ongoing problem for some time and it's a question of how best to deal with it.

"We particularly want to look at not just the older people but the youth of the area."

She added: "We have to ensure, and this was agreed, that we should get value for money.

"It was not felt that the scheme that was proposed represented value for money so we have decided to look at the whole thing again."

A budget of up to £5,000 has been allocated to the pilot scheme.