National Express is to launch a direct bus service to Gatwick airport from Kent in time for the Christmas holidays.

The round-the-clock coach service will be the only means of making the journey directly by public transport.

Running eight times a day, passengers will be picked up and dropped off at Canterbury, Chatham, Gillingham, Maidstone, Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate.

Students will also benefit from stops at the Medway campus of the University of Kent, Canterbury Christ Church and the University of Greenwich.

Travel times will be up to 45 minutes quicker than by rail, which involves at least one change.

The service will be run by Gillingham-based the Kings Ferry, which is owned by National Express, and will create 15 new jobs in the county.

It will be launched on December 7 in time to pick up passengers facing disruption during the holidays because of the largest programme of engineering works ever undertaken by Network Rail.

Great Western routes, West Coast Main Line, the London to Gatwick and Brighton line will be affected by the works, with the Gatwick Express train service cancelled from Boxing Day to January 4.

Business solutions director Danny Elford said: “The timing is critical because the Gatwick Express will not be able to run during the rail blockade.

“This service will mean people will still have access to the airport via public transport.

“We only agreed to do this a month ago and have turned this around in an incredibly short time space with the key aim to hit the Christmas market..." - Danny Elford, The Kings Ferry

“We only agreed to do this a month ago and have turned this around in an incredibly short time space with the key aim to hit the Christmas market.

“We will be allowing people to get home for Christmas.”

The move has been welcomed by Kent County Council as a significant enhancement in affordable travel in the region.

Cabinet member for environment and transportation Matthew Balfour said: “This is excellent news for the thousands of Kent residents who fly to and from Gatwick every year.

“It will dramatically improve journey times by providing a direct public transport link between key towns in the county and our nearest major airport.

“It will provide a realistic and competitive alternative to the cost of driving a car to Gatwick and the associated parking.”

National Express managing director Tom Stables said: "Our new services to Gatwick offer a direct link from the airport to Kent by public transport and underline our position as the UK’s number one provider of straight-to-the-airport travel."