Littlehampton's bus bonanza

Organisers hope there will be a record number of vehicles on display and taking visitors on free bus and coach trips in and around Littlehampton.

Of the 62 vehicles expected, 21, the most ever, will be running the free services, but the group staging the event stresses that, even with so many buses, visitors should arrive promptly to make sure of a seat '“ the early bird will catch the bus.

Experience in previous years has shown that, while the first services of the day, running from 10.30am, often leave half-empty, later trips are often over-subscribed.

Once again, the day will be reliving the golden days of bus travel, with the free rides following in the tyre tracks of the old Southdown routes.

And in this, the 50th anniversary year of the Queen's coronation, there will be a golden touch for two of the vehicles on show, both London buses, which were painted gold specially for last year's jubilee celebrations.

The event attracts members of the public as well as dedicated bus enthusiasts, and with so much to see on Sunday, the bus gathering team is again urging people to buy the souvenir programme in advance (it's on sale at the Gazette office, Beach Road), in order to plan ahead.

And to be fair to people unable to arrive during the morning, tickets for afternoon rides will not be distributed until after 12.30pm.

Vehicles will be heading to Littlehampton from as far away as the Manchester area, Gloucestershire, Dorset and Kent, with the oldest expected to be a 1937 Bedford WS single-decker mini-coach.

A replica of an early 20th century double decker, sponsored by tyre company Michelin, will be making its fifth appearance, thanks to Frank Corbett, of Littlehampton Tyre Services, while the bus gathering's two miniature "baby buses" will be offering children's rides within the event site, the St Martin's car park, which will be closed to cars for the day.

In a new departure this year, four photographic excursions will be run, giving the opportunity to take pictures of several buses from the event while they are operating services. There are also more mystery tours and country drives.

Bus gathering co-ordinator Trevor Hockham is now looking forward to the event after recovering from a heart attack he suffered last year.

Members of the Littlehampton 307 Bus Group, who are

restoring an old Southdown bus, are helping to stage the event with Trevor.

"Everything is set up for a great day '“ we are just hoping that the weather, the one thing we can't plan for, is kind, as last year it rained on the day for the first time."

Littlehampton Town Council supports the event with a 1,000 grant and Arun District Council also provides backing, including the use of the car park.

Although admission to the event and the bus rides are free, organisers hope that visitors will buy the souvenir programmes and other souvenirs, including this year's limited edition model Southdown bus, at the event, as proceeds help to cover the costs of staging the day.

These items are also on sale at the Gazette office until 3pm tomorrow (Friday).