A BID to provide hospital transport for Drumchapel residents has taken a leap forward thanks to a council funding boost.

G15 Buses has received an £8,000 injection from Glasgow City Council’s integrated grant fund to aid the charity’s plan to introduce a minibus service from the area to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and nearby GP appointments.

The group are planning to launch the project, dubbed Community Links, as soon as the Scottish Government’s route map system gives the go ahead.

The funds, which were administered as part of the local area partnership, will go towards a minibus to be used for the service, which will cost those who register with the charity around £2 per journey.

Any additional cash will help to develop an app to allow secure membership sign ups and bookings.

Peter McGillion, chair of the charity’s board of trustees, said: “After years of hard work, we have been awarded public funding to help further the aims of G15 Buses to enhance the transport links for the community of Drumchapel.”

The long-awaited service is expected to be up and running before the end of the year, after a number of “false starts" saw funding withdrawn at the eleventh hour almost two years ago.

It comes after the last direct bus route from the area to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Govan was axed in 2017.

Residents will be able to register with the charity for free if they intend to use the service, with hundreds already signed up.

Trustee Will Thomson said: “We will be trying our best to make sure as many suggestions that have been put forward by our members and supporters come to fruition.

“The state of play has changed since we applied for the funding. We will be keeping a close eye on the First Minister's route map to ensure we decide the best time to hit the road.

"We’re representing the people of Drumchapel so we need to ensure it’s an efficient and effective operation, one for us all to be proud of.”

To keep up to date with charity’s progress, visit it’s social media pages.