MORE than £30,000 has been set aside to take the Colchester SOS Bus to Chelmsford every Wednesday night for the next six months.

The money, allocated by Nick Alston, Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex, is part of £148,000 given out to 17 organisations around the country.

Mr Alston made the decision to fund the temporary programme, which will cost £31,800, after going out with the SOS Bus, run by charity Open Road, in Colchester.

“It was a tremendous experience,” he said.

“Often, volunteers from the SOS Bus and Open Road step in and offer practical and emotional support either directly or working with partners such as the police.

“So, I'm delighted to have been able to provide some New Initiatives Fund money to bring the SOS Bus from Colchester to Chelmsford on Wednesday nights.”

A second tranche of New Initiatives Fund will be released to Essex groups dealing with domestic abuse and for rural and countywide groups to help fight crime.