A CHARITY will now run community bus services across Suffolk after it was awarded a new contract.

Optua Community Transport has been running the Suffolk Links demand-responsive transport service in the north Gipping area – which operates in more than 30 parishes including Stowmarket, Woolpit, Elmswell and Bacton – for a number of years.

Now, the organisation has also been awarded the contract to run the Suffolk Links service in the Hoxne area covering a further 17 towns and villages including Debenham, Framlingham, Laxfield, Stradbroke, Wetheringsett and Halesworth.

Joan Petty, the group’s divisional manager, said: “We are delighted to have won this new contract. The Hoxne and Gipping North Suffolk Links serve areas which overlap so for us to be managing both will mean there is continuity between the two.

“The most important point is that we are able to ensure these vital transport links are available to people in more than 40 parishes in the Hoxne and Gipping areas. These services allow people to link up with other bus and train services, as well as providing a way of getting to amenities such as shopping facilities, doctors and leisure centres.”

To contact Suffolk Links in the Hoxne area phone 01449 616000.

Bookings can be made between 8.30am to 2.30pm Monday to Friday.