Wearing a face mask on buses and trains in Kent will be a "matter of personal choice", say operators.

But they are expecting the practice to continue out of courtesy as they wrestle with fast-changing government advice.

Stagecoach South East spokesman Matthew Maytum told KentOnline: "We've always been very clear that we expected people to wear masks when it was law, even though we've never been able to enforce it or deny them travel because they may have had an exemption.

"The messaging from government have been changing quite quickly in recent days and it's been difficult to keep up.

"But law has changed and our approach now, along with all other bus operators outside London, in the absence of any regulations would be to respect everyone's right to choose wear a face covering.

"We won't be obliging people to do so and that will be our messaging on buses but I think our view is to politely recommend it."

He added: "It's been quite challenging for us to keep up with the tone from government but we have been following the advice from our industry body, the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT)."

The CPT statement says: "We expect that many people, especially in busy places, will follow the Prime Minister’s call to continue to wear a face covering as a courtesy to others.

"Passengers though will find it difficult to understand why the Prime Minister has singled out public transport as somewhere to wear a face covering when a range of other activities share its characteristics.

"We now need to see clear guidance for operators and customers but, in the absence of regulations, it is important that we respect everyone’s right to choose whether to wear a face covering.

"The industry is doing everything it can to ensure people can travel with confidence.

"Operators will continue to deliver enhanced cleaning regimes, ensure buses are well ventilated and provide tools such as apps to allow customers to see how busy their bus is and help plan their journey in advance."

Arriva also directed KentOnline to the CPT statement.

Train operator Southeastern directed queries to its industry body the Rail Delivery Group.

It says: "Rail companies will ask people to follow the government guidance and, out of respect for others, wear face coverings if an indoor setting is busy.

"Train travel is low risk, with the majority of carriages well-ventilated by air conditioning systems or by doors and windows.

"As restrictions lift, we will continue carrying out extra cleaning and providing better information about how busy services are, so that our passengers can travel with confidence."

The Prime Minister said recently that despite scrapping the rules around mask wearing, which comes into force on Monday, there would be an "expectation" that people would continue to wear them in crowded indoor settings, like public transport, "out of courtesy" to others.

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