A charity which provides essential transport for Tendring's elderly, frail and disabled is preparing to axe its service to hospitals due to a lack of cash.

All trips for hospital appointments laid on by Tendring Community Transport will finish at the end of next month.

The charity currently provides 7,000 trips each year for vulnerable residents.

Chief executive Theresa Coyne said she had been in talks for three years in a bid to find a solution but it had not been possible.

"The board of directors at Tendring Primary Care Trust are fully aware of the problems we face and the valuable work we do," she said.

"Numerous meetings with Tendring councillors and officers have failed to result in any action. I have also written to Essex Rivers Healthcare Trust but without success."

The charity was not set up to provide health-related transport but had done so because customers were desperate.

Mrs Coyne thanked Essex County Council for the financial support it had given since 1993 which had helped them keep going this long.

Published Thursday, June 26, 2003

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