SEVENOAKS is demanding an improved bus service.

The district suffers from a patchy and infrequent service, with no buses running more than twice an hour and several villages only seeing one or two buses a week.

The service also finishes early in the evening, with the last buses leaving Sevenoaks to head back to the villages at around 8pm on weekdays, and at weekends, several stop before shops have even closed.

Although the Stag has now re-opened, any cinema or theatregoers relying on the buses to get home from an evening performance are likely to be left stranded.

Andrew Eyre, chairman of the Stag Shadow Trustees Committee, said: "Our hope is that Sevenoaks town centre will become busier in the evenings and the bus companies will be willing to put on more services. It's obviously a concern. Unfortunately it's something that's out of our control."

Just two per cent of residents' journeys in the Sevenoaks district are made by bus, compared to 4.4 per cent for the South East and 7.5 per cent in England.

Most people use cars to get around, something Sevenoaks District Council has highlighted in its transport study in a bid to cut traffic congestion and parking problems.

There are also environmental reasons for reducing car journeys. Increasing the use of public transport is one possible way to reduce residents' energy use, which is the aim of the transition town movement.

Steve Plater, member of the steering group for Transition Sevenoaks, said: "Clearly public transport is better (than cars) but it needs to be more appealing.

"I have a car, although it is a Toyota Prius (hybrid car). I've looked at trying to get places by bus but the infrequency of services and the early finish is off- putting."

He said he had planned to go to an event in Westerham by bus but the early finish of buses back to Sevenoaks meant he would not have been able to get back easily. While pensioners benefit from a free pass that allows them to use buses in the district after 9am, they are also a group more likely to rely on public transport. With an ageing population in the area, the district council is predicting the numbers dependant on buses will grow.

Age Concern Sevenoaks and District chief officer Gillian Shepherd-Coates said: "There are many people that don't live near the bus stop. There needs to be more consultation about where the buses go and how often. People who attend our centres say they'd like more buses and more accessible buses. It's climbing onto the bus that's difficult."

Barbara Hawkins, 83, who lives in Rockdale, said she cannot complain about the bus service, as she goes to Tunbridge Wells three times a week and says the service is regular and staff are always helpful. However, fellow resident Joyce Rogers said it would be "wonderful" if the 402 to Bromley ran later into the evening.

Brighter Futures offers a range of services to support older people in Sevenoaks, including a driving service staffed by volunteers who help people get to appointments, go shopping and visit friends and social clubs.

Manager Judy Collins said: "We're really covering where the bus service doesn't go. It's for anything they need a bus for: if the bus doesn't go there or it's infrequent or they can't use them or need a hand. I worked in London and I thought 'why don't you have a (volunteer) transport system here? It's because you don't need it'."

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Two – the percentage of journeys made by bus in the Sevenoaks district

£1m – spent annually by KCC on the district's buses

Nine – bus routes which stop at Sevenoaks Bus Station

250,000 – free bus journeys made each month by the county's 11 to 16-year-olds with Kent Freedom Passes

Two per cent – Amount by which the county council aims to increase bus use by 2011.

402 – Sevenoaks to Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells – twice hourly Monday to Saturday.

402 – Sevenoaks to Bromley – hourly Monday to Saturday.

306/308 – Sevenoaks to Borough Green – hourly Monday to Saturday.

401 – Sevenoaks to Westerham – hourly Monday to Saturday.

Sunday bus service – 401 – Sevenoaks to Westerham and Chartwell or Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells – twice hourly.

Chevening – no bus service.

Toys Hill – one bus a week on Wednesdays (238).

South Darenth – one bus a week on Thursdays (422).

Horton Kirby – one bus a week on Thursdays (422).

Chipstead – buses during the Monday to Friday rush-hour only.

Towards Ightham, Borough Green and Wrotham – Mon to Fri 7.05pm, Saturday 6.51pm (306/308).

Towards Sundridge, Brasted and Westerham – Mon to Fri 7.45pm, Saturday 5.45pm, Sunday 7.03pm (401).

Towards Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells – Mon to Fri 8.10pm, Saturday 7.08pm (402).

Towards Dunton Green, Otford and Shoreham – Mon to Fri 4.44pm, Saturday 12.46pm (to Otford – 4.16pm) (431/432).

Towards Seal – Mon to Fri 5.40pm, Saturday 5.10pm (431/432).

Towards Edenbridge – Mon to Fri 5.51pm (404).