Passengers have been left fuming after bus companies Arriva and Stagecoach confirmed they will scrapping a number of services.

Last weekend marked the end of the Sunday Arriva 334 bus from Sheerness to Maidstone, via Sittingbourne.

The 335 bus, which operates on Sundays between Canterbury and Maidstone via Sittingbourne, will also no longer run.

Although the 335 service is provided by Stagecoach, it is supported through a Kent County Council subsidy no longer being provided.

The changes have left a number of users upset.

Barry Eveling, of Millfield, Sittingbourne, said: “This is scandalous and will mean that apart from one return trip run by Chalkwell Coaches to Faversham and beyond, Sittingbourne will be isolated on Sundays.

Another resident, Adrian Foale, said: “Is there any other town the size of Sittingbourne without a Sunday service?”

A Kent County Council spokesman said: “The contract for this 335 Service expires shortly and as a result we have been re-tendering for it.

“In response to the tender, Stagecoach has registered to operate from Canterbury to Faversham commercially and Arriva has done likewise for the Faversham to Maidstone section.

“KCC welcomes the initiative of the operators to provide these services but this does mean some changes for passengers.”

Arriva has confirmed that although it is pulling the plug on one route, it will provide a service every two-and-a-half hours on Sundays between Maidstone, Sittingbourne and Faversham.

The company’s marketing manager, Richard Lewis, said: “This service will run for an initial trial period of six months and is being provided on a commercial basis by Arriva without any financial support.

“We hope that it will be used by sufficient people to enable it to continue running after the end of the trial period.”