IT'S more used to ferrying pensioners to hospital appointments.

But a town's minibus enjoyed a touch of glamour when it stepped in to save a bride-to-be.

Jane White had faced arriving at St John's Church, Alresford, on foot, after her transport, an old vintage car, broke down a week before her big day.

But the community-cum-bridal vehicle rescued the teacher by taking her - via a scenic detour - the 100 yards between The Bell Hotel and the church.

Mrs White said: “I have hired the bus before and we have been to see bands play and we have always had a great time.

“For me the bus is about community and fun.

“The whole wedding was about community and we did as much as we could locally.”

The 42-year-old - who married Andy Fawcett - was joined on the journey by the couple's three daughters: Mollie, 16, Daisy, 14, and Olivia, 10, a pupil at Sun Hill Juniors. Mr Fawcett's sons, Josh, 20, and Sam, 18, were their father's best men.

Mr Fawcett, a member of the Alresford Pigs, said the transport was part of a desire to keep the wedding as Alresford-focussed as possible: their reception meal featured watercress soup and Hampshire-reared pork.

“You get out of the community what you put into it,” said the 48-year-old sales manager. “I'm Hampshire through and through.”

The minibus belongs to New Alresford Town Trust (NATT) and has been helping the community's elderly and vulnerable for more than a quarter of a century.

In July Robin Atkins, co-chairman of NATT, offer to put his hand in his own pocket to keep the service going. It needs £36,000 by the end of 2010 and was £4,500 short.

The modern minibus, which can carry 13 passengers and a wheelchair, cost £55,000. The service, which makes over 300 trips each year, is run by Pam Stevens and a team of around 30 volunteer drivers.