It started life as a standard Arriva bus but now, thanks to £70,000 and the hard work of town centre bosses, one vehicle is being transformed into a mobile safe haven and education centre.

Wednesday, April 29 will bring the launch of Urban Blue – Maidstone’s newest weapon its fight to make the town the safest and best nightspot in the county.

Urban Blue, a name picked by students at Cornwallis Academy, which will also host the launch, is a double decker that is being transformed into a community bus.

By day the bus, which has an area with 16 seats and a video screen, will travel around schools and other organisations to educate on a range of subjects from teenage pregnancies to drug awareness.

It also has an onboard medical area to treat minor injuries, so the bus could be used at concerts and public events or even deployed to major incidents.

From the end of the month the bus will also be parked in the town centre on Saturday nights, with the hope of relieving stress and pressure on the ambulance and A&E service.

There will be a volunteer youth worker on board who will be available to support young people who find themselves stranded from friends or in trouble.

It will also be a safe haven for people waiting to be picked up after a night out.

Town centre management chairman Paul Alcock said money for the bus had come from a range of different sources, including Kent Police, the Government Office for the South East and the West Kent Primary Care Trust.

He said: “It is an entirely not for profit scheme. Any money will have been given will be ploughed straight back in.”

Mr Alcock said volunteers were now needed to help staff the bus alongside St John Ambulance helpers.

He said: “It doesn’t matter if you can only offer one day every three months. We just want to hear from anyone who can help out.”

Volunteers will get full training.

If you are interested call 01622 678777 or email maidstonebus@mtcmi.co.uk