A CHARITY bus used to feed the hungry in Ayr north during holiday seasons is being brought back after a successful fundraiser.

The 316 Bus was used to deliver holiday meals and activities to locals in Ayr north, an area that was recognised as one of the most deprived in Scotland according to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.

The service was stopped in January after the project leader was made redundant, but now under a new entity, Ayr St Colomba church said they would sell the 316 Bus for the sum of £1,000.

A campaign led by the new charity, 10:10’s chairman, Dylan Harper to raise the funds picked up huge backing from the public as they got behind the idea to feed the hungry in the area.

Dylan set up a justgiving page to pull in the cash needed to run the bus again and has already smashed the £1,000 target.

He said anything raised after this will go towards reinstalling activities in the bus such as gaming.

Dylan said: “I’ve been overwhelmed by how well it’s been supported. We met the target on the justgiving page and collected about the same amount in offline donations too.

“We need help to ensure we can carry out this critical service of providing holiday meals and activities to children, young people and families.

“The board committed to providing 10 days of meals and activities alongside partners this Easter but required the 316 Bus to do so.

“Our initial offer was rejected but now members of the public have made a difference to local children.

“Now that we have exceeded our £1000 target, additional funds will be used to replace gaming and AV equipment which has been removed from the bus.

“We purchased the bus on Sunday and are now just looking into the operational costs moving forward and using the extra cash to put in a Playstation and Xbox that kids can play on when there.”

In 2016 Dylan, former project leader of Lochside Mission, at the request of the Head Teacher of Braehead established ‘Project 5000’ to provide holiday meals for children in Ayr north. This work has continued with various partners including Unity Grill and South Ayrshire Council.

Dylan added: “It’s great to have it sorted so fast.”