WYCOMBE Dial-a-Ride and Wye Valley School are to benefit from more than £115,000, as part of a Christmas package from the Big Lottery Fund.

The bus service, which helps elderly and disabled people who can't use public transport, was awarded £92,680 as part of £4.6million funds for 32 South-East schemes.

And Wye Valley School in New Road, Bourne End was awarded £22,916 to improve a hard court area marked out for netball and basketball.

The money for Dial-a-Ride will buy two new 16-seater, purpose-built mini-buses with wheelchair access. They will cover an area of 200 square miles around High Wycombe.

Paul Lambourne, 56, Wycombe Dial-a-ride manager, said: "Our fleet of six buses was ageing and costing an arm and a leg to maintain. We received funding for three other buses last year and the publicity that this generated has made people even more aware of our service.

"We are now carrying around 690 people a week in the High Wycombe and surrounding area. We could not have met this demand with our old fleet.

"Our customers include elderly and frail people, and those with physical and learning disabilities and mental health problems. Most use the service for shopping, leisure activities and medical appointments.

"It contributes to their health, wellbeing and social life by allowing them to remain in their own homes while staying in contact with the local community."

The money awarded to Wye Valley School comes from the New Opportunities for PE and Sport programme, which has committed nearly £50million and seen 101 facilities completed and in use across the south east.

Linda Melton, headteacher at Wye Valley School, said: "The new surface will allow students to have a play and sports area that is free from puddles.

"It will make it possible for more students to perfect their basketball and netball skills, as well as providing a wonderful area for use by the local community for clubs in these sports."