Annual classic bus event to return to seaside town

An annual classic bus event is to return this year.

The Eastbourne Classic Bus Running Day will take place on July 7 and people will be able to travel free on historic buses dating from the 1930s through to the 1970s.

Passengers will be taken on trips to destinations including Birling Gap, East Dean, the Sovereign Centre, Bexhill, Hailsham and Pevensey Bay.

There will also be a seafront open-top bus service to places such as Beachy Head.

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The event, which has been running since 2006, is organised by Steven Wood, who owns a former Eastbourne Corporation AEC Regent bus dating from 1963, with the support of Country Bus Rallies (CBR).

A spokesman for Eastbourne Bus Running Day said the event will "aim to recreate the local services that operated from Eastbourne in the 1950s and 60s using preserved, cherished vehicles and liveries from that era".

This includes following the routes which the Southdown Motor Services and Eastbourne Corporation buses used to take.

There will also be stands, models of buses and books at Eastbourne Station.

All bus journeys will start from the car park beside Eastbourne Station between 10am and 5pm.

More information can be found at www.eastbourne-classicbus.co.uk.

The spokesman said: "The event provides a great family day out with recent years seeing over 2,500 people enjoying the ride.

"While all rides are free we do encourage you to purchase a souvenir programme and timetable.

"This is available for £10 on the day or can be ordered for £8.50 in advance from steven.wood@clara.co.uk.

"The monies raised from the sale of the programmes helps to cover some of the costs required to operate these privately owned vehicles."