The lack of public transport has been cited by an organisation - set up to help job seekers - as a major barrier for people who live in rural areas.

With having the car, it's enabled me to complete contracts and get back into work and into a reasonable pay situation Sandra Hughes

The scheme, which sees seven cars loaned out from �15 per week, has been introduced by Working Links - an initiative aimed at getting the long-term unemployed back to work.

Sandra Hughes, a former hotelier from Pwlhelli, said the scheme has enabled her to get back into employment.

"I'd been unemployed due to illness for a number of years and I'd retrained as an IT tutor.

Operating areas

Anglesey Denbighshire Gwynedd Conwy

"Unfortunately I wasn't able to get a job because of the restrictions on public transport.

"Luckily I received information about Working Links and I was told that they would provide me with a car.

"With having the car, it has enabled me to complete contracts and get back into work and into a reasonable pay situation.

"The car enables you to keep your contract and extend on other employment prospects," she said.

Rural areas

New employees are able to use the vehicles for up to 15 weeks.

Gareth Matthews, Welsh director of Working Links said the initiative has proved popular.

"Transport is a major barrier for many people, statistics show that people will lose jobs because of lack of public transport.

"It's not about people having problems getting to interviews it's when they have been offered a job and finding it hard to get there.

"Buses will connect with rural communities but they may not start at a time when people need to go to work," he said.