PEOPLE power has helped keep a lifeline minibus on the road.

Family Support bounced back from the brink of closure after the community clubbed together and raised £46,000 for a new minibus in a year.

The charity, which ferries elderly, housebound residents for weekly lunches at Bright-lingsea Community Centre, Alresford and Thorrington village halls, hit trouble in April 2009 after Essex County Council withdrew its funding.

Katie Walker, charity chairman, said: “We knew our old bus wouldn’t pass it’s MoT last month and without it we couldn’t pick the clients up. So we knew we had to pull our finger out. It was daunting.

“Forty-six thousand pounds is a lot of money and we just didn’t have that kind of cash sitting in the bank.

“We were concerned how we were going to keep going.

“Thankfully, we have a brighter future now.”

A charity ball and an auction raised £7,000.

Town mayor Jayne Chapman collected £2,500 by making Family Support her annual charity.

Eastern Waste Disposal, from Brightlingsea, donated £2,000 and four Brightlingsea councillors, Vivien Chapman, Alan Goggin, Graham Steady and Gary Scott, gave £500 each from their annual allowances.

The largest donations came from Colchester Catalyst Charity and the Percy Bilton Charity, which contributed £10,000 each to the campaign.

There were also donations from other foundations, trust funds and individuals, plus a collection in pubs and shops.

Ms Walker said it was testament to people power.

She said: “I would just like to say a huge thank-you to absolutely everyone who supported us.

“It’s an enormous amount for a small town like Brightlingsea and its surrounding villages to get together and raise.

“I think it shows how many people care about Family Support as we are a lifeline to many people.”

The bus, a Mercedes Sprinter van, made its first journey with the charity on Friday.