Transport Manager Lynn Mcintosh said: ''We are experiencing increasing demand for our Minibus service at a time of rising fuel and maintenance costs which is stretching our resources to the limit. We are very grateful to the Linden Family Trust for their timely injection of cash towards our running costs and to Rio Tinto Alcan for supporting our WATBike cycle maintenance programme.

"Two of our minibuses are now ten years old and we are trying to raise funds to replace them. Since November we have raised £18,000. When we reach £25,000 we have been promised another £10,000 and that will enable us to buy a super new mini bus with electric tail lift for wheelchairs''.

Transport Manager Lynn Mcintosh said: ''We are experiencing increasing demand for our Minibus service at a time of rising fuel and maintenance costs which is stretching our resources to the limit. We are very grateful to the Linden Family Trust for their timely injection of cash towards our running costs and to Rio Tinto Alcan for supporting our WATBike cycle maintenance programme.

"Two of our minibuses are now ten years old and we are trying to raise funds to replace them. Since November we have raised £18,000. When we reach £25,000 we have been promised another £10,000 and that will enable us to buy a super new mini bus with electric tail lift for wheelchairs''.

WATBus manager Lynn McIntosh said: ''This is brilliant news, to receive support from local people who know that the new bus will benefit many local community groups and people of all abilities. We are moving towards our target of £35,000.

"A big THANK YOU to everyone trying hard in these difficult times.''

Lynn can be contacted on 01670 522999 email lynn.watbus@yahoo.co.uk

WATBus manager Lynn McIntosh said: ''This is brilliant news, to receive support from local people who know that the new bus will benefit many local community groups and people of all abilities. We are moving towards our target of £35,000.

"A big THANK YOU to everyone trying hard in these difficult times.''

Lynn can be contacted on 01670 522999 email lynn.watbus@yahoo.co.uk

Transport manager Lynn Mcintosh said: ''This is a generous donation towards our new wheelchair accessible minibus appeal.

All our volunteers are helping drive towards our target of £35,000. The Rothley trust has boosted our fund to £15,100 raised in five months.Thank you to everyone who is helping, every penny counts.''

Transport manager Lynn Mcintosh said: ''This is a generous donation towards our new wheelchair accessible minibus appeal.

All our volunteers are helping drive towards our target of £35,000. The Rothley trust has boosted our fund to £15,100 raised in five months.Thank you to everyone who is helping, every penny counts.''

Cycle development officer Colin Hall said: "WATBike has turned my dream into a reality. We have past our first milestone of 100 guided rides in our first year and over 800 people have joined us exploring Northumberland by bike.

"I am looking forward to rolling out our new bike training programme and planning new routes for this year.

Cycle development officer Colin Hall said: "WATBike has turned my dream into a reality. We have past our first milestone of 100 guided rides in our first year and over 800 people have joined us exploring Northumberland by bike.

"I am looking forward to rolling out our new bike training programme and planning new routes for this year.

Transport manager Lynn McIntosh said: ''This is a fantastic start to March. We have been fundraising since November and this grant increases our new bus fund to £14,000.

"Everyone is working hard to raise funds so this is a great boost to all our volunteers. A big thank you to all our fundraisers, as every penny counts.''

Photo: Lynn Mcintosh with the good news letter

Transport manager Lynn McIntosh said: ''This is a fantastic start to March. We have been fundraising since November and this grant increases our new bus fund to £14,000.

"Everyone is working hard to raise funds so this is a great boost to all our volunteers. A big thank you to all our fundraisers, as every penny counts.''

Photo: Lynn Mcintosh with the good news letter

Deputy Head Andrew Miller said: ''As part of our community education the children decided to help WATBus and organised sponsored circuits on the new assault course and a cake stall. It really was self raising.''

WATBus manager Lynn McIntosh said: ''This is fantastic support from the school. We are all inspired by the childrens ideas, generosity and community spirit. The cheque is the icing on the cake, so a big THANK YOU to everyone at the school, every penny really does count.''

Pictured: Andrew Miller and Lynn McIntosh with fundraisers from New Delaval Primary School, Blyth

Deputy Head Andrew Miller said: ''As part of our community education the children decided to help WATBus and organised sponsored circuits on the new assault course and a cake stall. It really was self raising.''

WATBus manager Lynn McIntosh said: ''This is fantastic support from the school. We are all inspired by the childrens ideas, generosity and community spirit. The cheque is the icing on the cake, so a big THANK YOU to everyone at the school, every penny really does count.''

Pictured: Andrew Miller and Lynn McIntosh with fundraisers from New Delaval Primary School, Blyth

Jimmy Lang and Julie McCallum of ContiTech Beattie Ltd with Colin Hall, WATBike Cycle Development Officer

Colin Hall said: ''This is a fantastic secure storage for our new WATBike project. It will enable us to store donated bikes and develop a unique training programme on bike riding skills including route planning, repairs and maintenance. We are very grateful to ContiTech Beattie ltd for their support."

Jimmy Lang and Julie McCallum of ContiTech Beattie Ltd with Colin Hall, WATBike Cycle Development Officer

Colin Hall said: ''This is a fantastic secure storage for our new WATBike project. It will enable us to store donated bikes and develop a unique training programme on bike riding skills including route planning, repairs and maintenance. We are very grateful to ContiTech Beattie ltd for their support."

Our new cycling division WATBike is also proving very popular and helping to boost healthy cycling and walking activities.''

For more information on Sustainable Community Transport contact Lynn or Colin.

Tel 01670 522999 www.watbus.org.uk email lynn@watbus.org.uk

Photo at Warkworth on Sunday 23rd Jan. End of the ride

Our new cycling division WATBike is also proving very popular and helping to boost healthy cycling and walking activities.''

For more information on Sustainable Community Transport contact Lynn or Colin.

Tel 01670 522999 www.watbus.org.uk email lynn@watbus.org.uk

Photo at Warkworth on Sunday 23rd Jan. End of the ride

Manager Nicola Miles said "We like to support local charities and WATBus provide a great service for the whole community. When Dawn mentioned they need a new minibus with a wheelchair lift we were happy to collect towards this."

From left: Lynn McIntosh, Dawn Williams-Sanderson (WATBus volunteer driver) and Nicola Miles (Rohan Kanhai pub manager)

WATBus manager Lynn McIntosh said: "We were bowled over by everyone who is helping with the fundraising. Since November we have raised £5,500 towards our £35,000 target. Anyone fancy sponsoring a minibus or making a donation? please contact me or Colin Hall on 01670 522999 lynn@watbus.org.uk"

Manager Nicola Miles said "We like to support local charities and WATBus provide a great service for the whole community. When Dawn mentioned they need a new minibus with a wheelchair lift we were happy to collect towards this."

From left: Lynn McIntosh, Dawn Williams-Sanderson (WATBus volunteer driver) and Nicola Miles (Rohan Kanhai pub manager)

WATBus manager Lynn McIntosh said: "We were bowled over by everyone who is helping with the fundraising. Since November we have raised £5,500 towards our £35,000 target. Anyone fancy sponsoring a minibus or making a donation? please contact me or Colin Hall on 01670 522999 lynn@watbus.org.uk"

Lynn McIntosh explained: ''Many of our regular customers use a wheelchair or have difficulty walking and are escorted to their door. With the ice and snow it is to risky for them to venture out and as a result we had 52 bookings cancelled and lost £3750 last week.

Lynn McIntosh explained: ''Many of our regular customers use a wheelchair or have difficulty walking and are escorted to their door. With the ice and snow it is to risky for them to venture out and as a result we had 52 bookings cancelled and lost £3750 last week.

Community relations manager Rachel Anderson said: "WATBus do a fantastic job supporting the local community. I am pleased to be able to help their fundraising to buy a new minibus, which will help many people and groups to access and enjoy local amenities."

WATBus manager Lynn Mcintosh said: "Wow, what a great kick start towards our new minibus.

"All our volunteers are trying to raise money and this is a fabulous boost for everyone.

Many thanks Rachel we were gobsmacked."

Lynn can be contacted on 01670 522999 www.watbus.org.uk

Community relations manager Rachel Anderson said: "WATBus do a fantastic job supporting the local community. I am pleased to be able to help their fundraising to buy a new minibus, which will help many people and groups to access and enjoy local amenities."

WATBus manager Lynn Mcintosh said: "Wow, what a great kick start towards our new minibus.

"All our volunteers are trying to raise money and this is a fabulous boost for everyone.

Many thanks Rachel we were gobsmacked."

Lynn can be contacted on 01670 522999 www.watbus.org.uk

Transport manager Lynn Mcintosh explained: "We need to raise £35000 to replace our old minibus which needs to retire this year.

We provide a transport service for over 100 local community groups, clubs, schools and many individuals and we hope that they will help us to raise the lolly.

We have been given 30 sweetie jars and I will be visiting local organisations in October to ask if they will support us and place a collection jar on their counter to collect money for a new minibus with an electrically operated tail lift.

Transport manager Lynn Mcintosh explained: "We need to raise £35000 to replace our old minibus which needs to retire this year.

We provide a transport service for over 100 local community groups, clubs, schools and many individuals and we hope that they will help us to raise the lolly.

We have been given 30 sweetie jars and I will be visiting local organisations in October to ask if they will support us and place a collection jar on their counter to collect money for a new minibus with an electrically operated tail lift.

Lia Pattison, a childrens nurse at the RVI Newcastle Burns Unit, and Susan Reed a social worker for North Tyneside Childrens Services, who both live in Blyth, will be cycling 450 kilometers in the Beijing Province during Septembers 'Cycle China event.'

The target is to raise a minimum of £7100 by the end of July deadline, for the ' Women for Women' charity which has Professor Robert Winston as chairman.

Lia and Susan will be cycling in a group of 80 women hoping to complete this tough route in 5 days.

Lia Pattison, a childrens nurse at the RVI Newcastle Burns Unit, and Susan Reed a social worker for North Tyneside Childrens Services, who both live in Blyth, will be cycling 450 kilometers in the Beijing Province during Septembers 'Cycle China event.'

The target is to raise a minimum of £7100 by the end of July deadline, for the ' Women for Women' charity which has Professor Robert Winston as chairman.

Lia and Susan will be cycling in a group of 80 women hoping to complete this tough route in 5 days.

WATBike was launched in February and is aimed at opening up Northumberland for cyclists. By linking up a minibus with a bicycle trailer, WATBike will provide easier and affordable access to the National Park and Northumberland's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

WATBike was launched in February and is aimed at opening up Northumberland for cyclists. By linking up a minibus with a bicycle trailer, WATBike will provide easier and affordable access to the National Park and Northumberland's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Manager Lynn McIntosh explained: ''The funding will allow us to provide 3 free trips into Northumberland from Blyth, Ashington and Newbiggin areas for 36 customers who want to cycle the beautiful coastline.

Transport will be provided free of charge so all names will go into a hat and winning groups drawn from each area."

Manager Lynn McIntosh explained: ''The funding will allow us to provide 3 free trips into Northumberland from Blyth, Ashington and Newbiggin areas for 36 customers who want to cycle the beautiful coastline.

Transport will be provided free of charge so all names will go into a hat and winning groups drawn from each area."

Manager Neil Hedley explained;- ''We are part of Blyth Star enterprises, mental health charity and make logs and oven dried kindling for wood burning stoves and fires. Our waste wood products are used to produce heat for the factory and we realised that we may be able to put this to better use and cut our energy bills. We contacted Newcastle University and they were very enthusiastic to help and we are delighted that we have been awarded £5000 to develop our energy saving ideas...

Manager Neil Hedley explained;- ''We are part of Blyth Star enterprises, mental health charity and make logs and oven dried kindling for wood burning stoves and fires. Our waste wood products are used to produce heat for the factory and we realised that we may be able to put this to better use and cut our energy bills. We contacted Newcastle University and they were very enthusiastic to help and we are delighted that we have been awarded £5000 to develop our energy saving ideas...