Volunteer drivers in Keighley are being sought to help the ambulance service by taking sick people to hospital.

There are more than 200 voluntary drivers across the Yorkshire Ambulance Service but of those only one is from Keighley.

The Yorkshire Ambulance Service is in need of drivers across the whole of the Keighley district to give lifts to patients who struggle to get to their hospital appointments.

Assistant director for the home transport service, Mark Ruud, said that volunteers would be performing an important service to ailing people in the area.

He said: "Some people find that public transport isn't to their needs.

"The people who rely on voluntary drivers are those who have regular appointments at the hospital, for example, people on dialysis have specific times on a regular basis and volunteers can give them individualised and tailored support.

"It is giving patients more freedom of choice and we find that the volunteers get a lot out of it."

The service is looking for people, aged 21-70, with a clean driving licence who have a caring nature, to drive to more rural areas of the district and take patients to hospitals in Steeton, Bradford and Leeds.

All drivers are given first aid training, although they will not be dealing with emergency situations, and they are put on a free driving course, which enhances awareness and hazard perception on the road.

Mr Ruud said: "We find people are quite happy giving their services to help others. When people are retired, for example, it gives them a sense of purpose. Some of them think their careers are over but now their career is as a volunteer.

"Friendship can strike up between the patient and volunteer - it really is a wonderful service and we want more people to have that."

Anyone interested in volunteering can phone 0845 1241241 and ask for the human resources department or e-mail catherine.whiteley@yas.nhs.uk.