A bus service is to return on trial this summer after it was cut more than two years ago.

The 360, which runs between Sheerness and Leysdown, will be back on Sundays for eight weeks from July.

Run by Chalkwell, it will begin on July 20 and finish on September 7.

It will run during the Sheppey tourism season, where visitors flock to the holiday camps across the Island, as well as the school summer holidays.

The 360 currently runs from Monday to Saturday and is the only transport link between the east end of the Island and Sheerness.

It means on Sundays, non-driving Islanders have to get a lift or pay for taxis.

The bus had run on Sundays but was cut by Kent County Council (KCC) in February 2023 due to finances.

Chalkwell bus boss Roland Eglinton says whether it stays will be decided by how much it is used.

He said: “At the end of the trial, we will look at the usage and have further discussions with KCC and other stakeholders.

“[But] we are delighted that this funding has been secured and that buses can return to Sheppey on Sundays, even on a trial basis.

“The eastern side of the Island doesn’t have access to a rail station, so getting around is particularly difficult.

“There should be a wider economic benefit to the area, as people can get to and from Sunday jobs, and tourists spending money should provide a boost for businesses.”

The trial, which had been worked on by former KCC Sheppey councillor Mike Whiting (Ind), is being funded by the government’s Bus Grant under the Kent County Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan.

This funding has been used by KCC to protect and sustain a significant number of previously unfunded services across the county.

Fares will be the same as the rest of the week, with singles capped at £3.