A bus company boss who came under fire for insisting school children had to wear face masks on board says the policy was justified after a pupil was found to have coronavirus.

The Sittingbourne School has told all children who were on a Travelmasters bus from Sheppey one morning last week to self isolate from today after the case was identified.

Tim Lambkin, who runs Travelmasters, says CCTV shows that the Year 7 boy in question had sat at the front of the bus on the top deck and kept his mask on at all times, therefore helping prevent further spread.

"We came under an immense amount of flak from some parents on the policy that face coverings must be worn," he said. "We're the only company that insists students wear them.

"As a company, we felt it would help. It's been shown that it does help prevent transmission.

"Now I think it's been shown it's worth its weight in gold."

Mr Lambkin said the company, which is based in Sheerness, was told about the coronavirus case by The Sittingbourne School on Saturday.

Bus firm staff were called in to immediately review the CCTV to help identify all children who were on board on the day in question.

Records show the bus was cleaned on the Tuesday evening and again the following day but it has still been taken off the road for a further 72 hours as a precaution.

The driver of the bus, who had been self isolating since the case came to light, was also sent for a test and received the all-clear so was due to return to work on Thursday.

Making masks compulsory was among a raft of measures introduced by Travelmasters for when children returned to school.

Hand sanitiser is supplied on all buses, screens have been fitted for extra protection and passenger numbers are limited to help reduce the chances of the virus spreading.

Staff have their temperatures taken every day.

Cleaners have had their hours increased in the mornings and evenings, with regular deep cleans undertaken.

Travelmasters' buses also no longer carry pupils from more than one school, so if an outbreak is identified the chances of it being spread between pupils from different schools is lowered.

But Mr Lambkin said it had been the face mask policy which had proved particularly controversial.

Although the majority of people had been in favour, he said he had taken a lot of abuse.

"A few said we should not be doing this. You think, 'hang on a minute, we are protecting your child here'."

Read more: All the latest news from Sittingbourne

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