The axing of a bus route, which left patients struggling 600m uphill to reach a medical surgery, has been reversed by Stagecoach.

Non-drivers were forced to fork out up to £40 for a taxi to and from Estuary View Medical Centre, after the number four from Greenhill to Canterbury, via Whitstable, was cut in April last year.

However, the route, which reliably stopped directly outside the Whistable medical surgery, has now been brought back, returning on May 5, to the delight of passengers.

Canterbury city councillor Naomi Smith, for the Seasalter ward, was part of the group that lobbied for its return.

She said: “We are just delighted that Stagecoach is bringing the bus back.

“Estuary View serves a wide part of the population of the district and if you can't get a bus there it can be a problem.

“People in Canterbury were telling me how it was costing them £40 a pop for a taxi to the centre.

“It’s brilliant - I’m super pleased that the bus is back. It's great news for the residents.”

Lauren Wright, 40, is moving to Whitstable in April and says without the route she would have been walking for half an hour to get to Estuary View, from the Whitstable Heights development.

She said: “I think it is important as not everyone has a car. I think sometimes the assumption is that everyone has a car or at least access to a lift.

“The bus route being there will cut down on people’s taxi fares, making things much more affordable for people. I'll be using it quite regularly.”

The route is important for Ms Wright, as she hopes to register at the medical centre and will also be visiting the nearby Pets at Home, for her two dogs.

After the service was cut last year, the only bus that served the medical practice was the 638, which runs approximately once every two hours, leaving patients stranded while they wait.

That route travels from Whitstable to Faversham via Yorkletts, Dargate and Hernhill, meaning the many patients coming from other areas were forced to make considerably longer journeys.

At the time of the cut, Stagecoach said the number four route, which stopped at Boorman Way, was no longer viable.

It left elderly and inform patients walking more than 600 metres from the bus stop at Long Reach and crossing busy roads, rather than walking just 34m to the surgery.

Dr John Ribchester, GP and director of strategy at the practice, told KentOnline after the service was ditched: “We’re very disappointed because we spent a long time talking to Stagecoach to get that little stretch from Long Reach down to the little roundabout right in front of Estuary View covered.

“A huge number of patients were using the service to access Estuary View Medical Centre but it is also used for access to the shops there and all the residents of the estate opposite the surgery.

“Estuary View is not just a general practice, it provides a lot of integrated healthcare services, including the urgent treatment centre and the day surgery.”

A spokesperson for Stagecoach said: “We're making some planned changes to the local bus network from May 5.

“The changes will simplify route options and create some new and more convenient connections as well as helping to improve the reliability and time-keeping of buses in response to ever-increasing traffic congestion.

"A new daytime service at Estuary View Medical Centre will be included, linking it with Greenhill, Whitstable and Canterbury.

Details of the route, including the proposed new timetables will be published in April.