Some Medway bus routes are changing, including the re-introduction of an evening service between Chatham and Borstal.

Arriva is making changes to a small number of its services from this Sunday.

The main two changes will see a complete revision to services 113 and 114 which link Chatham, Luton, Hempstead, Wigmore, Rainham and Gillingham and the re-introduction of evening buses on the 155 route between Chatham, Rochester, the Medway Valley villages and Maidstone.

The evening buses are being brought back following requests from local residents and are being funded by Kent County Council and the parish councils for a six-month trial period.

An evening service had previously been provided with funding from Kent County Council but a lack of use meant that the cost of supporting it was no longer possible and the buses concerned were withdrawn earlier this year.

Arriva has said the continuation of the new journeys after the trial period will very much depend on sufficient use of them being made of them.

The changes to services 113 and 114 will include new times and a new route, with buses running between Chatham, Luton, Hempstead, Parkwood and Wigmore in both directions, rather than following the current circular routes that include Rainham and Gillingham.

The new-look services, to be known as the Capstone Flyer will give a half-hourly link from the Wigmore area to Chatham on weekdays, taking the quick route into Chatham via Capstone Road and Luton.

Other parts of the current 113 and 114 routes will be covered by the diversion of services 120 and 121 to serve Darland Estate and with the 121 running via Barnsole Road instead of using Nelson Road at Gillingham.

Other changes from the same date include the extension of a service 133 bus in each direction to give a new link from Cliffe direct to Chatham Boys Grammar School and there will be minor timetable changes affecting services 116 and 191.

Arriva’s regional publicity manager, Richard Lewis, said: “We are pleased to be able to give an improved service to the Wigmore and Hempstead area and hope that our customers will find the quicker and more frequent journey into Chatham to be of benefit. The Hemsptead Valley and Rainham areas continue to be served by our frequent Medway Mainline s service 132.

“The new evening buses through Borstal, Wouldham, Burham, Eccles and Aylesford are being reintroduced following requests from local residents and we are pleased to be running them on behalf of KCC and the local parishes.

“There is a real need for them to be used if they are to continue after the six-month trial period and we would encourage local people in those villages to take the bus into Maidstone, Rochester or Chatham for their evenings out in order to ensure that the evening buses can continue in the future.”

Full details of the changes are available from the information office at Chatham Waterfront Bus Station, by calling 0844 800 4411 or online atwww.arrivabus.co.uk/medway.