RESIDENTS of Ulverston will be able to continue using a handy health centre bus that is also said to be helping the local economy.

The service, which transports people to and from the Stanley Street centre on weekdays, has been awarded a grant of £21,000 by Cumbria County Council's Local Committee for South Lakeland.

Since it began running in May 2005, passenger numbers have steadily increased on the bus from just 35 people a week to as many as 245.

The funds will keep the service running in 2007 and 2008 until it is included in a wider review of services, which will look at providing long-term funding from the county council's central transport budgets.

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