A BOROUGH charity has scooped a £2,000 runners-up prize in a footballing competition.

Had Ellesmere Port & Neston Community Transport won top prize in the Barclays Premier League's Places for Players Initiative it would have been allocated a player from Everton FC to raise awareness of its work, along with a big cash prize.

Instead it was one of 20 runners-up, each receiving £2,000. Judges said they were 'particularly impressed' with its application.

Based at Stanlaw Business Centre in Stanney, it provides affordable, accessible and reliable transport for borough residents who don't have easy access to cars, live in rural areas or have mobility issues.

It has a small but dedicated team of volunteer drivers who have provided transport for more than 25,000 people in the past year.

Charity vice-chairman Betty Smith said: 'We are really grateful to the Premier League, which is giving us the opportunity to improve our image by providing uniform for our drivers.

'This makes us even more readily recognisable to our clients and allows us to purchase items from our wish list, improving working conditions for our staff.'

Meanwhile, the group has just been given unlimited use for one year of a 15-seater standard minibus by Vauxhall Motors, and is awaiting delivery of a 16-seater fully accessible minibus being donated by the Morgan Foundation.

Mrs Smith added: 'We are more than grateful for the generosity of both donors and their vehicles will be put to good use by us.'