Passengers in the back of a Chadwell Heath man’s Dial-a-Ride bus may not realise they are getting the best service in London.

Arthur Camfield, 65, of Gresham Drive, was chosen as the the driver attendant of the year at Transport for London’s Dial-a-Ride Awards.

From a base in Roding Lane South, Woodford Green, Mr Camfield takes disabled and elderly people across Redbridge on shopping trips, to visit friends and to club meetings.

He has worked in the job for four-and-a-half years and was nominated for his “generosity and consideration of colleagues and passengers”.

Transport for London described him as a “polite and helpful man who is always willing to go that extra mile and is highly regarded by his passengers”.

Mr Camfield said: “It’s for everybody at Woodford, everyone does an excellent job.

“If a driver gets stuck somewhere and they can’t get anyone to do it, if I can do it, I will.”

The free service for people who can’t use public transport takes Mr Camfield to six east London boroughs on up to 36 runs a day.

In either a four-passenger van or an eight-passenger bus, his Redbridge runs include supermarkets in Barkingside, Goodmayes and Woodford Green and synagogues.

He said: “It’s very interesting, meeting the people.

“[Members] often don’t see anyone else other than the drivers during the week.

“We’re their main contact so we sit and talk to them.” Mr Camfield received a certificate and a �100 capital bond at an awards ceremony in City Hall on Friday.

He shared his award with a Wimbledon driver.