The accessible transport charity Norwich Door to Door has raised more than �30,000 in just six months to add a new minibus to its city fleet.

With �33,000 in the kitty, an order has been placed for the charity's eighth bus, which is scheduled for delivery in November.

It will give the charity the capacity to wipe out the two month waiting list of people who want to begin using the service, which is designed for the disabled and elderly whose mobility problems prevent them using ordinary public transport.

Norwich Door to Door chief executive Jill Gaul said: 'We'd like to thank everyone who chipped in to help us meet the demand that we know is there. The new bus will be the crowning achievement of our 20th anniversary year.'

Contributions to the fundraising have been large and small. They included �10,000 from the National Lottery Awards for All fund and �5,000 from the Geoffrey Watling Charitable Trust, down to supporters and users of the service making individual donations of a few pounds. Two supporters, Ruby Clift and Chris Yeates, raised �901 with a sponsored cycle ride.

The expansion of the service also means the charity is now looking to welcome new volunteer drivers and passenger assistants, who work to a nationally-recognised training programme.

Although the money for the new bus has been raised, fundraising goes on to meet the cost of keeping the Door to Door fleet on the road and a summer fete is the next event in the diary, taking place at Hethersett Village Hall on Saturday, August 11.