THREE community groups which provide a range of transport services are set to be handed grants totalling nearly £50,000.

Leading members of North Yorkshire County Council will approve grants of £6,000 to Hambleton Community Action, £26,000 to Boroughbridge and District Community Care and £15,000 to Ryedale Community Transport.

The funds will be used towards replacing minibuses to transport people who would otherwise experience significant social isolation, with access to lunch clubs, coffee mornings, and organised trips to local areas of interest.

The vehicles are also used by numerous primary schools and other youth organisations.

The grants will also be used towards buying mopeds for young people to enable them to get to work, training or education.

A council spokesman said: “By its very nature, community transport is set up to improve services following the identification of gaps in existing services.”