There have been sighs of relief from bus-users stranded on their estate.

Back in January, Nu Venture withdrew its No 55 service, which previously had provided residents of the Ringlestone estate just outside Maidstone with a twice-daily bus into town.

Nu Venture said at the time that the number of passengers using the bus was “pitiful.”

However, for the small number of residents without a car - and particularly for those unable to walk uphill from the bottom of the estate to the A229 Royal Engineers Road where it was possible to catch an Arriva 101 bus - the service had been a lifesaver.

They launched a campaign to have the bus reinstated and a petition of 71 signatures was presented to the KCC highways chief, Cllr Neil Baker.

Now Nu Venture has reacted to their pleas and announced that in future the No 29 “shoppers service,” which previously visited the estate only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, will now run every weekday, starting April 7.

It means that passengers in other outlying villages such as Peter Village, Wouldham, Burham, Eccles and Aylesford will also benefit from a more frequent service.

Garry Baillie of Dickens Road, Ringlestone, said: “It’s great news. Everyone’s very happy that all the campaigning has paid off.”