Boris up close and personal with cheetah

Boris Johnson took a trip to Howletts at the weekend - and appeared anxious as one of the animals attempted to eat his hat.

The former cabinet minister visited the Bekesbourne wild animal park on Sunday ahead of writing an article for the Telegraph about the Aspinall Foundation.

As part of his experience, the staunch Brexiteer met Saba the cheetah, who took an interest in his clothing.

In a tweet about the visit, Mr Johnson said: “This weekend I went to @howlettspark where I met Saba the cheetah who will soon be released into the wild.

“He nibbled my hat. You can see I was totally calm and at ease. I’ve written about the incredible work the @aspinallcharity are doing.”

Saba made headlines in November when he escaped to a nearby deer park, leading to the deaths of two of the animals. Furious parents paying hundreds of pounds for bus passes say their children are being left stranded at stops with no choice but to walk along busy main roads to get to school.

Some claim they receive phone calls from their children worried about being late after being turned away from packed buses travelling on route 17 from Bridge to schools in Canterbury.

They argue they should not be paying large amounts for a bus pass when they end up having to drive them into the city themselves or they have to walk.

A young person’s annual travel pass is £290 and £400 for 16+.

Parish councillor Steve Fawke, who often has to drive his son to school, is taking the matter up with bus operator Stagecoach.

“The trouble is the bus travels from Folkestone through Elham, Barham and Kingston before reaching Bridge - we’re at the end of the line and the buses are full when they get here,” he said.

“We’re seeing more single decker buses so the kids can’t fit on. Parents are having to round them up and drive them in.”

He says “gaggles of kids” are also often seen crossing the busy A2050 after being left stranded.

Reverend Estella Last, from Bridge, pays £190 each for sixmonth passes for two children.

She says while she appreciates things can go wrong, the problems are a regular occurrence.

“The occasional extraordinary case is understandable, but what we have seen in the last couple of weeks is becoming more frequent,” she said.

“The bus pass has a significant cost to it and parents therefore have an expectation that when Thursday, February 21, 2019 Kentish Gazette (KG)

Thursday, February 21, 2019 Kentish Gazette (KG) www.kentonline.co.uk

www.kentonline.co.uk Thursday, February 21, 2019 Kentish Gazette (KG)

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