A retired vicar is now leading the fight to turn an abandoned railway line into a green cycle and walking path similar to the Crab and Winkle Way.

The Rev Tim Foreman, who was the vicar of Eastchurch and is still a chaplain at a prison, has been named as chairman of the Sheppey Greenway project.

The scheme to turn what is left of the Island's former light railway into a cycle and walk way linking Queenborough and Minster to Eastchurch and Leysdown is the brainchild of Sheerness town councillor Linda Brinklow.

She is the group's secretary. Fellow councillor Chris Reed has been drafted in as treasurer. Finances will be handled by Sheppey Matters.

Cllr Brinklow told a meeting of the Sheppey Community Development Forum at the Oasis Academy's Minster campus: "Since our inaugural meeting on September 30, much has happened to start this exciting adventure."

The Foundation for Integrated Transport has awarded the group £1,500 to get started. It also has the backing of Adrian Oliver, Swale council's Active Travel coordinator, who is working on a funding bid for better walking and cycling facilities.

Cllr Brinklow added: "As stressed at the first meeting, it is vital as many people on and off Sheppey show their backing as access to funding usually requires evidence of need and community support.

"One of the ways the community can show support is by studying the proposals and making suggestions for improvements."

The group has put together a website at www.slrgreenway.org and has its own email address .

Its next meeting is on Friday, March 3, at Sheerness East Working Men’s Club, Halfway, at 7pm when Jonathan Fryer will talk about the Colonel Stephens Society. The society was set up to honour Colonel Holman F Stephens who launched the Sheppey Light Railway on August 1, 1901, along with many other lines.

Robin Townsend, who fought to create the Crab and Winkle Way which follows the path of the former Whitstable to Canterbury Crab and Winkle Line, will be special guest later in the year in June.