Several bus services are being axed on the Island due to rising costs and Kent County Council's (KCC) funding cuts.

Chalkwell Coaches announced three transport routes are being withdrawn on Sheppey from next month with some journeys also being amended.

The Sittingbourne firm began operating the Island Buses network in July 2021, however, due to a "considerable increase in its costs of operation" some "minor" changes are set to come into effect from Monday, February 13.

A spokesman said: "Since Chalkwell started operating the 360/361/362/367 Island Buses network we have been delighted with the amount of positive community engagement, and we have seen steady growth with people returning to buses after the pandemic.

"However, we have also seen considerable increases in our costs of operation, such as fuel, wages and vehicle parts.

"We need to make some relatively minor changes to these services in order to address some of the cost issues, ensuring the commercial viability of the bus network.

"To do so, we want to inconvenience as few people as possible so that our customer numbers can continue to grow."

Chalkwell took over the 360, 361 and 367 routes after they were given up by Arriva.

The service was given the new name, Island Buses, and also took on the school buses serving the Oasis Academy.

But 18 months on these routes are to change yet again.

The 367 service, between Warden Point and Sheerness, is being withdrawn as well as the 361 service at 2.15pm out of Sheerness and the 3.15pm non-school day 361 service.

The 362 service at 8.25am and 8.55am will also be axed alongside the 3.55pm non-school day 362 service.

Amendments to the Island Buses routes include the 360 service – the first bus from Leysdown at 5.57am will instead be at 6.02am.

The first bus from Sheerness at 6.55am will be at 6.40am instead.

The 360's afternoon services out of Sheerness at 4.15pm, 5pm and 5.45pm will be combined into two services at 4.25pm and 5.15pm.

The current 360 service at 8.44am from Eastchurch will be extended to start at Warden Bay and, finally, the 362 service will be reduced to an hourly service on Saturday.

Chalkwell confirmed that alongside rising costs another factor for the bus cuts is KCC's funding changes.

The spokesman continued: "KCC is withdrawing some of their supported bus funding, which has an impact on what we do.

"The vast majority of the network is unaffected, however, the Sunday and Bank Holiday 360/361 service will be withdrawn.

"This is currently paid for by KCC, who are stopping their subsidy. Please contact your local KCC councillor if this affects you.

"We've withdrawn some of the services due to low usage.

"We aim to have full timetables published in the next week so customers can view the full range of journeys.

"These will be on our website initially, and later in hard copies."

For further details click here.

Cameron Beart, Conservative councillor for Queenborough and Halfway took to Facebook to share the news.

He said: "The routes are commercial services and aren't commercially viable.

"The cost of running the service increased but fewer people were using them.

"Most bus services are only at 70% of pre-pandemic levels, off-peak services are as low as 50%.

"Chalkwell should be praised for picking up the services that Arriva chose to give up and still keeping a service on the Island which they've run with minimal changes until now."