Passengers have criticised Arriva after the bus company suspended some buses on one of its routes.

The firm has reduced the number 79 Penenden Heath service so that it will no longer run from the town centre after 3pm, or serve Allington.

The move has provoked anger, especially among children and commuters who rely on the buses.

Lynda Clark can no longer use the route on her way home from work, at Asda Living in St Peter’s Street, since the new timings came into effect last week.

The 58-year-old from Boxley Road said: “It takes me around half an hour to walk but just a few minutes on the bus. I already have to walk in because the first bus doesn’t run until 9.40am.

“It is frustrating, but I’m more worried about people who have a season ticket.

“I can’t see who would need to use a bus at those times. It’s too late and early for the school run and for people going to work. I’m lucky I don’t live so far away from work that I can’t walk.”

It also serves pupils of Maidstone Grammar School, meaning the only service for children from Penenden Heath is provided by Nu-Venture.

Parents have told the Kent Messenger it is often full, with the next bus leaving from the town centre an hour later at 4.30pm.

Arriva marketing manager Richard Lewis said the decision to discontinue the late afternoon services was made because they were not used enough.

He said: “Like all bus companies, we are a commercial business that is required by law to run profitably and we therefore also have to monitor the financial performance of our routes.”

The number 60 bus has been diverted via Poplar Grove, Palace Wood and Allington to maintain a service to that side of London Road and provide new links to Maidstone Hospital. The number 79 has doubled in frequency in the middle of the day, Arriva said.

Timetables are available from arrivabus.co.uk or Maidstone Gateway office in King Street, Maidstone.