Ring and Ride passengers celebrate as 'lifeline' bus service set to be saved

The service, which transports elderly and disabled people across the region to day centres, churches and hospitals, was put under threat earlier this year after its operator went into administration.

But as the Express and Star revealed transport giant National Express is close to securing an agreement to take on the running of the service.

National Express is in “final discussions” with Transport for West Midlands - who has kept the service running for the last four months - about taking over the Ring and Ride Service, which has more than 12,500 registered users across the region.

Some of those who would have been affected by the loss of Ring and Ride are a group of ladies who attend a club at Darlaston’s Sons of Rest Club, off Cramp Hill. A handful of its members use the service - which they described as their “lifeline” - to get there every Tuesday afternoon, where they enjoy socialising with others and play games such as bingo.

'I wouldn't get out without it'

Among them is 87-year-old Doreen Saxon, who lives in Darlaston, and often uses the service three times a week.

She said: “I always knew someone had to step in and save the Ring and Ride. It really is my lifeline - I wouldn’t be able to get out and about without it.

“I use the service three times a week. It picks me up on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays to take me to different clubs that I like to go to - I wouldn’t get out the house otherwise.

“They couldn’t stop it - someone had to come in and take it up. So many people rely on that service.”

Brenda Saunders, 82, from Willenhall, said: “I was really upset when I heard they were looking at stopping the service. So many people have used it for so many years.

"The Ring and Ride is how I got about. I have spondylitis, which is a form of arthritis in the neck, so I can't turn my neck so I had to pack up driving.

"I have been very grateful for the Ring and Ride service. I use it on a Saturday night to take me to Gala Bingo in Walsall. I rely on it an awful lot – this club is just one that I go to, I use Ring and Ride almost three times a week.

"The drivers are brilliant and they are always there to help. I don't know what we would have done if it stopped. They also take me to see my sister in Pelsall. The service keeps me in contact with my friends and family."

Ninety-year-old Mary Weaver said: "I thought it was really upsetting when it was threatened with stopping – you rely on these things, then someone who has not used it before or doesn't know anyone who uses it decides they have had enough and get rid of it.

"It was like they thought they are older why would they want to go out and enjoy themselves. It has been a lifeline.

"I use it once a week but it is what I look forward to every week – it keeps me in touch with my friends, we can go anywhere we like whether its being taken to clubs, shopping or anything.

"We were over the moon when we found out it was saved. It helps me to continue living my life."

Jean Potter, 88, said: "The Ring and Ride provides me with a chance to socialise and meet my friends. I was really happy to find out it had been saved – it is my lifeline and I use the service a lot. It really gets me out and about."

Eighty-two-year-old Irene Cooper added: "I thought stopping it would be so terrible – I thought it would be the end of my social life, it gets me out of my house."

The Ring and Ride service, which provides door-to-door transport, has six depots across the West Midlands. It runs a fleet of 120 accessible minibuses for customers in Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, Birmingham, Solihull and Coventry.

Accessible Transport Group (ATG) collapsed into administration in March, sparking fears elderly and disabled people reliant on the service would be cut off.