A VITAL New Forest service to give hot meals to vulnerable people living at home is under threat because of a shortage of volunteer drivers.

The Meals on Wheels service has issued a community call to recruit more drivers to help deliver the 40 meals a day to people in Ringwood, Bransgore and Burley.

The meals on wheels service delivers a hot midday meal for people who are unable to cook for themselves and there is no one else who can help them.

For many elderly folk, it is the only contact they might have with the outside world for days.

But the Bransgore route is now threatened, as many drivers, some of whom are retired, have fallen sick.

And WRVS office manager Christine Baehr said the recent fuel hikes might also impact on the vital service.

"It is getting more difficult because most of our drivers are elderly and have been driving a long time. We have had a run of illness.

"Our drivers are paid 40 pence per mile but this is something that I will be taking up with the finance manager as I believe our allowance should keep up with raising costs of fuel and drivers should be recompensed."

She told the Forest Journal that the Bransgore Route was most in need of drivers and just two or three additional volunteers would make a difference.

She said: "We have 40 volunteer drivers, which sounds like a lot but they don't deliver every day.

"Some deliver weekly some fortnightly and some monthly, however if people are ill or on holiday it is far easier to cover for them."

A spokesperson for the WRVS said that a few hours a week is all it takes to make a real difference to those in need.

If anyone is interested to offer some time to the meals on Wheels service then ring 0845 601 4670.