Bus routes serving rural villages around Maidstone and West Malling could change.

Kent County Council (KCC) has launched two consultations to find out how people would feel about a pilot bus scheme which would drastically alter routes.

The new proposal is to cut 13 and 59 Arriva services short as they head from Hollingbourne and Grafty Green respectively and replaced with 'feeder buses.'

They will instead terminate at Morrisons in Sutton Road, where passengers would change onto buses into Maidstone or Tenterden.

Improvements to bus shelters including digital timing boards are also part of KCC's plans.

In West Malling, the authority wants to do something similar with the 58 service.

The public are being asked their opinions on two options.

One is a short feeder service where passengers transfer at Martin Square, Larkfield while the other is a longer service where passengers transfer at Maidstone Hospital, Barming.

The proposed changes come following last year’s Big Conversation, which gauged opinion on how the authority could best help provide sustainable rural transport.

Similar pilot schemes being developed with parish councils could also be deployed in Dover, Sevenoaks, and Tenterden.

KCC says school travel will be unaffected with all services continuing to run directly to and from Maidstone at these times.

The consultation launched today and finishes on Tuesday, February 19.

To take part, visit kent.gov.uk/consultations or kent.gov.uk/maidstonebuspilot or kent.gov.uk/westmallingbuspilot