COMMUNITY groups are warning that unless they can find volunteer drivers, disabled and elderly people could be left stranded.

Dial-a-Ride in Fareham provides a service to anyone who cannot use public transport for journeys in Hampshire, but have had to cancel trips because of volunteer shortages.

Team leader Jane Allison said that groups like Dial-a-Ride were often a lifeline for elderly and disabled people but recently some services had fallen by the wayside.

"There is an incredible need for people going to hospital through volunteer drivers and the volunteer agencies can't find people to do it."

She said that as well as social trips her organisation had to cancel, for example to the Isle of Wight and Southampton theatres, other groups were in much worse shape.

"It is a shame because I know that a group for the over-60s had to fold up because they did not have a volunteer driver," she said.

Fareham Stroke Club, which holds weekly meetings and special events and uses volunteers to pick up members, is also facing difficulties.

Volunteer Sarah Davies said: "We do try as far as possible to fix people up but there comes a time when we are not able to do it."

She said that although the group had a fund which could pay for taxis for members, a shortage of wheelchair-accessible cabs in Fareham at peak times caused problems.

"Occasionally people are let down - they cannot go to the club because there is a lack of drivers."

Jane Allison said current volunteers were already stretched, with some driving for two or three groups, but unless the pool of drivers increased some people would continue to lose out.

Anyone interested in finding out more about volunteering as a driver should contact Fareham Community Action on 01329 231899.