An open top bus could return this summer - if a newly-launched fundraising campaign proves successful.

The Jurassic Mule, operated by Mendip Mule Motorbus Company, was a familiar site to many as it travelled along the Jurassic Coast allowing tourists and locals alike to hop on and off.

It served Lyme Regis and Charmouth as well as Beer, Colyton and Seaton in Devon, but was forced to close in September due to the ‘continual whining’ of local residents, owner Derek Gawn said.

Staff were also subjected to verbal abuse from some people, he claimed.

After Mr Gawn announced he would be withdrawing the buses, which saw 20,000 visitors in 2017, he was contacted by dozens of people asking him to reconsider.

He has now set up a JustGiving page to bring back tours on the 1950s buses and help pay to get the buses back into service.

Writing on his page, Mr Gawn said: “We would love to return following the support we received by so many in 2017 when we announced our termination, and hit national news.

“The initial set up costs for insurances, taxes, as well as creating and printing timetables and publicity. This would give us the financial security to be able to provide the service for the period of the summer holidays in 2018.”

Mr Gawn has set a target of £3,000 for the initial set up costs for insurances, taxes, creating and printing timetables and publicity.

He says those who donate will be rewarded with travel vouchers for the forthcoming season and has promised to refund all those who donate should the target not be met.

About 25 people lost their jobs when the buses stopped running last year.

Mr Gawn claimed his staff were subjected to verbal abuse from residents in the Seaton and Colyton area and that some would deliberately park in a way that prevented the bus from passing through.