Kingsbridge Vintage Bus Running Day is back, giving passengers the chance to view the beautiful sights of the South Hams aboard a classic bus.

This year’s running day is taking place on Saturday September 18 All services are free throughout the day and there is no limit to the number of journeys you can take.Last year’s event was held as a virtual one due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and followed a journey from Kingsbridge to Dartmouth made by organisers, members of The Thames Valley and Great Western Omnibus Trust, travelling in a former Western National 1960 FLF double decker.This year’s event will follow the traditional format with just a few changes to accommodate the extra traffic created by the boost in staycationers visiting the area.This will mean fewer services on the narrower lanes, and more buses following the shorter journeys.There will also be extra duplicated services due to social distancing measures on board.The 14th annual running day will celebrate two events - the centenary of the registration of the National Omnibus and Transport Company, which united with the Great Western Railway in 1929 to form the Western National.It will also commemorate the 60th birthday of the small country bus, the Bristol SU, introduced in 1960 and which ran until 1972 when the Kingsbridge bus depot closed.A special exhibition, which will change throughout the day, held at the Western National bus depot building in Derby Road will mark the anniversary.Among the highlights of the day will be the popular 2019 route via Beesands, Hallsands, Kellaton and Start Point which boasts spectacular views of Start Bay and Slapton Sands, which this year has been extended to take in East Prawle and East Portlemouth too.Luxury coach tours will run all day to the picturesque sheltered bay at Blackpool Sands.Organiser, Colin Billington, of Loddiswell said: "We are really pleased to be able to put on our Running Day again this year after our enforced absence in 2020. "We are again very grateful for the backing of our principal sponsor, Kingsbridge’s own Tally Ho Coaches, who are supporting us in many ways behind the scenes. "We are also grateful to the other bus companies and local businesses who have advertised in our programme again this year. "All of the roads we are using are former or current bus routes and we are grateful to other road users for respecting the age and speed of our vehicles and kindly accommodating them. "The event is for one day only and gives enormous pleasure to many people and benefits local businesses. "It also demonstrates the environmental benefits to many people who may have not travelled before by bus and are encouraged to make greater use as a result of their Running Day experience."