Iconic bus designs are back on our roads to celebrate a landmark anniversary.

It has been 50 years since the striking green London Country buses were first launched, and Kent County Council has partnered with Arriva and Go-Coach to get the once familiar sights back on some routes.

The green livery now adorns one bus from each operator. Staff showed off the new paintwork at Bluewater shopping centre, in Greenhithe .

From 1970 to 1986, London Country buses served the south east counties, extending the red bus network of London.

The bus deregulation programme outside of London drew this chapter to a close and the company was divided into smaller divisions and sold off.

KCC cabinet member for highways and transport Michael Payne said: "Five decades on, the colours of buses have changed a few times in North West Kent, but their vital role in the fabric of our communities has not.

"I'm delighted to have joined forces with Arriva and Go-Coach to mark the 50th anniversary of a key part of Kent's bus heritage by bringing back the retro livery of London Country.

"It is fitting that Arriva and Go-Coach not only operate over old green London Country routes, but are both also involved in innovative new ways of providing bus services that are greener for the environment."

The livery has been added to one of Arriva's Fastrack buses, a fleet of high specification vehicles which use dedicated lanes to bypass congestion hotspots in Kent.

Under contract to KCC, the Fastrack service will also see its next generation of buses become zero-emission and electric.

Fastrack advisory board chairman Catherine Rankin said: "This is part of a major network expansion, not only taking in the developing areas of Ebbsfleet Garden City and Northfleet Embankment, but also becoming the heartbeat for transport connecting people to the London Resort theme park, should government give this the nod."

"We have a green heritage, but we have a greener future."

Also joining the livery change is Go-Coach which provides a demand-responsive and flexible bus service for the rural and often isolated areas of Sevenoaks.

Branded Go2, the service is bookable via an app and operates like a shared taxi, meaning that journeys will be made only when and where they are required.

Austin Blackburn, owner of Go Coach said: "With Go2 only fulfilling demand, perhaps the days are numbered for empty buses unnecessarily running around rural communities.

"Go-Coach and KCC have been heralded as trailblazers within the industry."

Head of public transport at KCC Phil Lightowler said: "In a year that has been particularly tough on the bus industry, this project has been a small ray of sunshine and a sign of better times ahead.

"We have a green heritage, but we have a greener future."

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