MINISTER of State for Transport Stephen Ladyman will be the main speaker at a function this Thursday (September 22) to announce that the Kent Walking Bus Project is now a truly Kent-wide organisation following its expansion into Tunbridge Wells.

Mr Ladyman, the MP for Thanet South, will make the formal announcement in front of 70 guests on board the P&O Ferries ship Pride of Kent.

The charity now serves all of the county apart from Tunbridge Wells, but will officially expand into the area in September.

Sponsors of the Walking Bus Project, including major sponsors Denne, Ringway, Cleanaway, Medway Council, Kent County Council, Kent Messenger Group and the mhs community charity, will all attend to hear the Minister enthuse about the benefits of Walking Buses.

Project chairman Simon Dolby: "This will a very exciting moment in the development of the charity."

Mr Ladyman's ministerial responsibilities include road safety, the strategic road network, shipping ports, regional strategy, vehicles and fuels, and transport technology and research.