LOCAL Troon woman Cathy Morrison has been praised for her enthusiasm and community spirit by neighbours.

Cathy and her team at Ivy Cottage have been running the Troon bus run annually for at least 20 years and has been described as an 'unsung hero'.

But now the 'run' which attracted 150 people this year allowing them to visit different locations in the west coast will collapse due to insufficient funding.

Cathy's neighbour, Jean Shields, spoke to the Troon Times: "We have been on the Troon bus run but have only just found out it has been Cathy running it. I have known her all this time and did not know she was behind it.

"Loads of people did not know it was run by Cathy and many people who went on this trip was from Troon. 

"Now the funds have dried up and I think she should be recognised for her hard work as she also runs Ivy Cottage. I think she is just wonderful.

"I have known Cathy for about 15 or 16 years and it just shows how little you know about a person."

Cathy has been in charge of the bus run as it stands for 12 years. Before 1996 it was funded by the council.

She said: "There is no 'I' in team and my team at Ivy Cottage consists of 10 people who are great. But less people are getting involved as they have other commitments and did not realise who ran the trip.

"There are clubs that run at Ivy Cottage which will continue as will the trip but it will be run in a different format and the details will be finalised in August.

"Ivy Cottage opened in 1972 but in the 2000s we upgraded it through funds we raised at Morrison's bag packing."

Cathy was also awarded Citizen of the Year two years ago. She concluded: "The Troon bus run has run for 20 years which has been great."