All aboard the new Moneyspinner Age Concern mini-bus.

The keys to a brand-new £35,000 minibus were handed over by BBC Radio Nottingham to Notts Age Concern today as a busload of smiling pensioners looked on.

The bus, purchased with donations from BBC Nottingham's Moneyspinner Charity Appeal, will be used by Notts Age Concern to transport pensioners around the county.

BBC's Kate Squire hands the keys to a happy Mick Tinkler.

The money was raised by an on-air auction last year, together with the proceeds of a raffle and the Radio Nottingham Christmas pantomime at the Arts Theatre.

Radio Nottingham Editor Kate Squire presented the keys to Age Concern Chief Executive Mick Tinkler in front the the BBC East Midlands Broadcast Centre in Nottingham.

The bus, packed with 20 eager pensioners aged from 62 to 94 years old, headed off to lunch and activities at Patchings Farm in Calverton. The location was chosen by Radio Nottingham listeners in a special phone poll on the Mid-morning Show.

The minibus will take pensioners to all parts of the county.

The donated bus will be used to pick up older people who can't manage to get to the Age Concern drop-in centres by themselves. It will also come in handy for day trips and shopping.

Notts Age Concern says the minibus will be based at the Cybil Levin Centre on Nuthall Road in Cinderhill, where older people can take craft and IT courses, or get haircuts, chiropody services and baths.

Age Concern says special care is offered to people who are in the first stages of Alzheimer's disease.

Mick Tinkler says the bus will benefit people in all parts of the county, even the frailest pensioners who find it difficult to get out and about.

See our earlier story about the Moneyspinner Appeal or visit our Radio Nottingham site.