The remains of a long abandoned railway line could be turned into a cycle and walking track if campaigners get their way.

A bold plan to convert what is left of the former Sheppey Light Railway into a "green way" linking the eastern and western ends of the Island is back on the cards.

The former railway stretched 11 miles from Queenborough to Leysdown before it was closed down in December 1950.

Parts of it are still visible, although much has been built over.

But there is a call to convert what is left into a "green way" like the former Crab and Winkle railway line joining Whitstable to Canterbury which is now a major tourist attraction for cyclists and walkers.

The scheme is the brainchild of Sheerness town councillor Linda Brinklow.

She has teamed up with Adrian Oliver, Swale council's new officer for active ravel.

The pair will be holding a meeting later this month to gauge public reaction.

Cllr Brinklow said: "This will be the ultimate in recycling the Sheppey Light Railway route."

For years, there has been talk about getting a safe cross-island route for cyclists and walkers.

In 2007 the Green Cluster Studies of the Isle of Sheppey spoke of a vision for an east-west off-road green way with "access for all" linking towns and villages from Queenborough to Leysdown.

More recently, Islanders were asked what they would like to see to help Sheppey adapt to climate change. One of the suggestions was a cross-island cycle/walkway.

Cllr Brinklow said: "Here we are in 2022 and still nothing has been done about it."

She added that time was running out as more housing was threatening to swallow up what little was still left of the historic route.

Plans to build homes between Scocles Road and Elm Lane at Minster could destroy part of the old track which had stations at Sheerness East, East Minster, Minster, Brambledown Halt, Eastchurch, Harty Road Halt and Leysdown.

The line went across Minster Road near the Harps Inn before terminating at Leysdown. The platform later became part of the Seahorse pub which was later knocked down to make way for housing and a miniature golf course.

Mr Oliver says he has been "consulting widely" about the green way and says many Islanders want to see the former railway track brought back to life.

But he warned: "It is vital everyone gets behind this project if it is going to stand a chance of success.

"There needs to be a wide spectrum of interested people involved including historians, cyclists, walkers, families, artists, tourism professionals and people with skills, expertise and enthusiasm to drive the project forward."

The meeting will be at Sheerness East Working Men's Club at 7pm on Friday, September 30. Robin Townsend, who chairs the Crab and Winkle Way, will be present to outline possible problems.

Cllr Brinklow, 75, said: "The Crab and Winkle Line took 25 years and that is only seven miles long. Ours will be 11 miles. I'll be 100 in 25 years time but it would be nice to get it started at long last."