Facelift for big screen bus

It has starred on the big screen in movies including Atonement, Captain America and Chronicles of Narnia, but this vintage London bus has certainly lost its film star looks.

Now enthusiast Mike Knott hopes to give the double-decker a facelift and new lease of life - as his own mobile home.

He bought the 1950 AEC Regent RT from a film production company to save it from being scrapped.

“That would have been a tragedy,” said Mike, 31, who teaches circus skills, especially juggling. “They’re aren’t too many of these left but they have such character.”

He plans to make the bus a new home for him and his girlfriend Hannah, who works as a carer.

But the 31-year-old who lives in Canterbury admits he has his work cut out in restoring the vehicle to roadworthy condition. Firstly, he needs to find a new home under a tall roof where he can work on the vehicle.

It is currently on hard standing at Dunkirk but Mike is desperate to find new storage and is appealing for help from anyone who might have a location where he could pay a small rent. “It would be fair to say that progress has been slow since I got the bus but I need to crack on with it now,” he said. “There’s a fair bit of sheet metal work and repairs to the wooden ash frame which I am not fazed about and can do myself. “Fortunately, the mechanicals are in pretty good nick, despite notching up around a million miles on the streets of London before being retired from service. The aim is to have a kitchen/dining and living space downstairs and bedrooms and shower upstairs.

“It still has many of its original features which I plan to keep.” Mike reckons it will cost about £10,000 in materials and he has also launched a fundraising page for any enthusiasts to support who would like to see the bus saved.

Go to www.gofundme/f/ mikesbus or email Mike at m.w. knott@hotmail.co.uk.

The bus has featured in a number of Hollywood movies

Mike Knott will carry out the restoration of the vintage bus himself