A weekly bingo session has been saved by a local business. Elderly residents that play their favourite game in the Salterbeck’s Oval Centre faced the prospect of not being able to travel to venue after the Cumbria Community Transport bus was burned out in an arson attack last Monday.

With suggestions that community services such as community busses could be at risks with the unprecedented public spending cuts to be announced later this month it is nice to see a company helping out the local community. John Stobbart a businessman in Workington has provided the group with the use of his company minibus which enable the local residents to travel to their weekly bingo session.

Local residents Margaret Telford, 67 and Cath Wilson were over the moon at the unexpected gesture. Margaret commented: “It is wonderful. For most of us this is the only time we get out of the house and we really enjoy it.” Cath added: “It is good of them to lend us the bus. It is the only afternoon I get out and we all like to go for the crack.”

The bus is not just used by residents playing bingo but also by other community and youth groups within the area.

The Allerdale councillor for Salterbeck, Carole Armstorng who also drives the community bus, claimed “Without this bus they could not get out, so it is a lifeline.”

Jennifer Birkett the Centre manager was also full of praise for kind gesture.: “We cannot thank Mr Stobbart enough.”