DEALT a cruel blow throughout lockdown, ­and unable to operate tours since November­ — Wight Coaches has given some insight into the challenges it's faced.

The coach industry is among those hit the hardest by the pandemic.

Coach hire is mostly seasonal, and a large proportion of Wight Coaches' business comprises tours, school residential trips, weddings and festivals ­— all cancelled during lockdown.

A coach hire business based in Wootton, Wight Coaches operates a fleet of modern coaches which bring passengers to the Isle of Wight.

Wight Coaches.

Wight Coaches.

It also takes local residents on trips across the UK and Europe, and works with a number of local groups and schools.

"We carried out some tours during the months of September and October," said Wight Coaches director, Josh Harris.

"But with lockdown in place and the uncertainty that comes with it, we have not operated any tours since early November and our vehicles have been off the road ever since.

"Our busiest times of year would usually be during the summer and during the tinsel and turkey season, and for both we did not carry out any trips.

"We have been fortunate that our drivers have been furloughed, but the vehicles themselves still have costs when they are not being used, which includes insurances, parking charges and office costs.

Wight Coaches.

Wight Coaches.

"The coach industry has been heavily impacted by the pandemic.

"The Confederation of Passenger Transport estimates usage of coaches is down 90 per cent since the pandemic, and this has resulted in the closure of a lot of coach companies and holiday businesses, including local coach holiday business IOW Tours.

"We are now one of only three coach hire businesses to still be operating on the Island.

"We are fortunate to still be trading, and we're looking forward to what we hope will be a busy remainder of 2021 once lockdown is lifted. We are already receiving a number of bookings.

"We have made a number of changes to how we operate, including installing hand sanitiser stations on vehicles, requiring passengers to use face masks for the foreseeable future, and we have provided training to our drivers and put policies in place for sanitising vehicles after each trip."